Pakistan government clears February 15 India clash in Colombo after ICC-led talks involving PCB and BCB

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Pakistan have officially withdrawn their boycott of the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan group match at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, ending a ten-day standoff that had threatened the tournament’s biggest fixture. In near-simultaneous announcements on Monday night, the Pakistan government and the ICC confirmed that the match will go ahead as scheduled on February 15 in Colombo, restoring the tournament’s commercial and sporting centrepiece.

In a statement, the Pakistan government said several ICC member boards, including Sri Lanka and the UAE, had urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) not to proceed with a boycott, citing the wider financial and sporting impact on other nations. The statement also confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held discussions with Sri Lanka President Kumara Dissanayake as part of the diplomatic outreach that helped resolve the impasse. The government directed the Pakistan national team to take the field, saying the decision was taken “to protect the spirit of cricket” and to ensure the continuity and success of the global game.

The ICC welcomed the breakthrough, stating that discussions with the PCB were part of broader engagement aimed at maintaining unity, integrity and cooperation among member boards. The governing body added that all participants had agreed to respect their commitments under ICC event regulations and work collectively to ensure the smooth conduct of the ongoing T20 World Cup.

A key factor in Pakistan’s earlier stance was Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament after refusing to play matches in India, which the PCB had publicly criticised as an example of “double standards”. While Bangladesh were not reinstated, the ICC confirmed that no penalty would be imposed on the BCB, a move seen as a significant outcome of negotiations involving the ICC, PCB and BCB. Bangladesh were also awarded hosting rights for an additional ICC event in the 2028–2031 cycle, after which the BCB thanked the PCB for its support and appealed for Pakistan to play the India fixture.

Behind-the-scenes talks had intensified in recent days, including a meeting in Lahore between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, BCB chairman Aminul Islam and ICC director Imran Khawaja. While discussions reportedly also touched on issues such as ICC revenue sharing, the final resolution focused on ensuring participation and avoiding disruption to the tournament. With the boycott withdrawn, the India vs Pakistan clash is now set to proceed, bringing relief to organisers, broadcasters and fans worldwide.