India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha Pakistan late on Monday agreed to play a February 15 T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo, reversing its decision to boycott the match after days of hectic talks with the ICC, which also included Bangladesh Board (BCB) chief Aminul Islam Bulbul.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!“In view of the results achieved in the multilateral discussions and also on the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan national team to take the field against India,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on X.Earlier, the BCB asked the PCB to play “for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem”. On the other hand, the ICC said that BCB will not face sanctions for not playing T20 World Cup matches in India.
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The ICC also said that BCB will get the hosting rights for the 2028–31 ICC event. “The ICC, PCB and BCB along with other members remain committed to continued dialogue, cooperation and constructive engagement in the best interest of the sport,” the ICC said in a statement.Meanwhile, Pakistan said in a statement: “The Government of Pakistan has reviewed the formal requests sent to the PCB by the BCB, as well as supportive communications from Sri Lanka, the UAE and other member countries. These correspondences sought Pakistan’s guidance in securing a viable solution to the recent issues. The Government further noted the statement by the BCB President, Mr. Amin, a warm embrace of Islam. Pakistan. reaffirms its stand by with Bangladesh.
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“In view of the results reached in the multilateral discussions as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the team to take the field on February 15, 2026 for the scheduled World Cup match,” the PCB said.He also added: “The Prime Minister spoke on the phone with Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the 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 Sri Lankan President asked the Prime Minister to seriously consider an amicable solution to the current impasse.”Bangladesh were kicked out of the tournament for refusing to play in India on security grounds. Naqvi also dismissed suggestions that the PCB is under pressure due to the ICC’s warning about the action. “You know, we’re not the ones who are afraid of these threats at all. We’re not worried about any sanctions,” he said.A statement from the Bangladesh board on Monday said: “The BCB expresses its sincere appreciation to the PCB, ICC and all concerned for their positive role in overcoming the recent challenges.“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s effort to go above and beyond to support Bangladesh. May our brotherhood flourish. After my brief visit to Pakistan yesterday and in view of the upcoming outcome of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play a match against India on February 15 for the benefit of the entire cricketing ecosystem,” Islam said.An ICC statement said: “It is agreed that no financial, sporting or administrative sanctions will be imposed on BCB in relation to the current matter.
