Tilak Varma of India bats during the Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo/Getty Images) NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are nearing a decision on the February 15 T20 World Cup match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, TimesofIndia.com can confirm. In all likelihood, the clash with the marquis is set up to get the green light. It is also learned that Imran Khawaja and Mubashir Usmani, two ICC representatives, reached Lahore on Sunday morning.TimesofIndia.com reported on Saturday that the dialogue between the PCB and the ICC is finally underway after the Pakistan government decided to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo on February 15.
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The PCB appealed to force majeure, citing government instructions not to field against their arch-rivals in the group stage of the multi-nation tournament. The government gave no further explanation or justification in the statement. In response, the global cricket body asked the PCB to justify how it had tried to break the logjam under the terms of participation.Pakistan decided to boycott India’s match in solidarity with Bangladesh, who were replaced by Scotland after they refused to travel to India for the World Cup matches, citing security concerns.While the Pakistan government has allowed the national team to participate in the T20 World Cup, it has banned them from playing in India, the match that represents the biggest commercial draw for the ICC and its broadcast partners.The decision prompted Sri Lanka Cricket to write to the PCB, warning that the absence of the clash between the arch-rivals on 15 February would result in significant financial losses for the SLC and damage both the organization and the image of the tournament in the island nation, which co-hosts the event with India.Pakistan are scheduled to play all their matches in Colombo and Pallekele, starting with the match against the Netherlands on Saturday.Both India and Pakistan started their tournament with wins over USA and Netherlands respectively.
