India captain Suryakumar Yadav waits for the third umpire’s decision on his wicket during the fourth T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand in Visakhapatnam, India, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) NEW DELHI: The stalemate is over. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reversed its boycott of the February 15 T20 World Cup match against India.The Pakistan government on Monday cleared the national team to play India in the T20 World Cup and directed it to stick to its scheduled match against India.
T20 World Cup | “Our flight is booked and off we go” – Suryakumar Yadav on boycotting Pakistan
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!The reversal came after the ICC warned the PCB of the possible financial implications of invoking the force majeure clause to justify pulling out of the match in India at the last minute as per government instructions. The clause cited by PCB refers to unforeseeable circumstances that prevent a party from fulfilling its contractual obligations.“The Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, was formally informed by the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, regarding the outcome of the high-level discussions held between the PCB, representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB),” the Pakistan government said in a statement. “The Government of Pakistan reviewed the formal requests that the Bangladesh Cricket Board sent to the PCB, as well as supportive communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and other member countries. These correspondences sought Pakistan’s guidance in securing a viable solution to the recent issues.”“Government further took note of the statement of BCB President Mr. Amin ul Islam. The deep gratitude expressed by our brotherly nation is received with great warmth. Pakistan reaffirms that it stands shoulder to shoulder with Bangladesh.”“This evening, the Prime Minister spoke on the phone with HE Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka. During their warm and friendly conversation, they recalled that Pakistan and Sri Lanka have always stood side by side, especially in challenging times. The President of Sri Lanka asked the Prime Minister to seriously consider an amicable solution to the current impasse.”“In view of the results reached in the multilateral discussions and also at the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on 15 February 2026 for the scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match. “Furthermore, this decision has been taken to protect the spirit of cricket and promote the continuity of this global sport in all participating countries.“The Prime Minister and the people of Pakistan extend their best wishes to the ‘Men in Green.’ We remain confident that our team will carry the spirit of sportsmanship and national pride onto the field as they compete for global glory.”Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said its involvement with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was aimed at strengthening unity, integrity and honoring participation commitments to ensure the smooth running of the T20 World Cup. It also reaffirmed its long-standing support for Bangladeshi cricket and emphasized that the absence of the team from the 2026 event will not affect the growth of the sport in the country.
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“The dialogue between the ICC and the PCB took place as part of a wider engagement of both parties who recognized the need for constructive engagement and were united, committed and single-minded in their aspirations to serve the best interests of the game with integrity, neutrality and cooperation,” the ICC said in a statement. “In this prevailing spirit, it has been agreed that all members will respect their obligations under the terms of participation in ICC events and will do whatever is necessary to make the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup a success.“For Bangladesh, the ICC has reiterated its continued support for growth in one of cricket’s most vibrant markets with more than 200 million passionate fans to ensure that the national team’s absence from the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup has no long-term impact on cricket in the country.”
