Match to Proceed in Sri Lanka on Sunday
Following extensive negotiations, Pakistan has agreed to participate in the scheduled T20 Cricket World Cup match against India, set to take place in Sri Lanka on Sunday. This decision reverses Pakistan's earlier announcement to boycott the game due to geopolitical tensions.
Pakistan initially declared their boycott after the International Cricket Council (ICC) last month replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. This change was made following Bangladesh's refusal to travel to co-host India for their matches. However, after discussions on Monday, the Pakistan government confirmed that the match would proceed as planned.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board had previously urged Pakistan to play the match in Colombo after consultations with both the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board in Lahore.
In response to Bangladesh's refusal to play in India, the ICC stated it would not impose any sporting, financial, or administrative penalties on Bangladesh. Additionally, the ICC announced that Bangladesh would host an ICC event prior to the 50-over World Cup scheduled for 2031, which will be co-hosted by India and Bangladesh.
“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period ... I request Pakistan to play the game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,” said Mohammad Aminul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, confirmed that his team would travel to Colombo for the match on Sunday despite Pakistan's initial boycott decision.
