Govt allows Pakistan team to play T20 World Cup match against India as per schedule

• Pakistan to face arch-rival India in Colombo on Feb 15.
• Decision reached in PM Shehbaz–Sri Lankan president phone call.
• Sri Lankan president requests Pakistan to play match against India.
  

ISLAMABAD: At the request of friendly countries, the federal government on Monday directed the Pakistan national team to play its scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo. 

Pakistan had decided not to play against arch-rival India in solidarity with Bangladesh, who were kicked out of the tournament for citing security concerns and standing firm on their decision not to send their team to New Delhi.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders discussed the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and India during the telephone call.

The Sri Lankan president requested PM Shehbaz that Pakistani cricket team should play the Pakistan-India match in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan fully supported Sri Lankan cricket during the terrorism in Sri Lanka, the president said, adding Pakistan gave priority to its long-standing relations with Sri Lanka above all else and the Pakistani cricket team continued to tour Sri Lanka to play cricket despite terrorism.

PM Shehbaz welcomed the sentiments of the Sri Lankan president.

He said that Sri Lanka also provided full support in difficult times and cricket continued in Pakistan.

"Recently, the Sri Lankan team took an unforgettable step for the Pakistani nation and cricket fans by not cancelling the tour of Pakistan," the PM added.

PM Shehbaz told the Sri Lankan president that he will inform him of the final decision after consultations regarding the Pakistan-India match of the T20 World Cup.

'No penalty for BCB'

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that no financial, sporting or administrative penalty will be imposed on the BCB following discussions over the national team’s absence from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

“This dialogue covered several matters, including but not limited to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the broader outlook for cricket in South Asia,” read the statement.

While reflecting on the Bangladesh cricket team’s unfortunate absence from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the global governing body for cricket reaffirmed BCB's position as a valued Full Member, with a proud cricketing history and a vital role in the growth of the global game.

The statement said that BCB retains the right to approach the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), should it choose to do so. This right exists under current ICC regulations and remains intact.

“The ICC’s approach is guided by its principles of neutrality and fairness and reflects the shared objective of facilitative support rather than punishment,” the statement added.

As part of this understanding, an agreement has been reached that Bangladesh will host an ICC event prior to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031, subject to the usual ICC hosting processes, timelines and operational requirements.

“This reflects confidence in Bangladesh’s capability as a host and reinforces the ICC’s commitment to providing meaningful hosting opportunities across its membership to develop cricket in the country,” it added.

The ICC, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and BCB, along with other members, remain committed to continued dialogue, cooperation and constructive engagement in the best interests of the sport.

All stakeholders acknowledge that the spirit of this understanding is to protect the integrity of the game and preserve unity within the cricket fraternity.

ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said: “Bangladesh’s absence from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is regrettable, but it does not alter the ICC’s enduring commitment to Bangladesh as a core cricketing nation.”

He added: “Our focus continues to be on working closely with key stakeholders including BCB to ensure the sport grows sustainably in the country and that future opportunities for its players and fans are strengthened.”

He said that Bangladesh remains a priority cricket ecosystem deserving of long-term investment in its development, competitiveness and global integration, and is not defined by short-term disruptions.

Separately, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam, in a statement, requested Pakistan to play their scheduled game against India.

A day after visiting Pakistan, the BCB president expressing gratitude to the PCB chief for his support.

“The BCB wishes to express its profound and heartfelt gratitude to PCB Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, his Board and the cricket fans of Pakistan. Throughout this period, the PCB has demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity,” read the statement issued by the BCB.

The BCB president said that Dhaka was “deeply moved” by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh in its dispute with the ICC.

“Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket eco system,” he said.

The BCB also appreciated ICC and all involved for their positive roles in trying to overcome the recent crisis.

A day earlier, the PCB and the ICC along with the BCB held talks for more than five hours with Naqvi, BCB President Aminul Islam and ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja in attendance.

During the meeting, the sources said, the ICC responded positively to Bangladesh’s demands, and a formula to address grievances with the BCB has been prepared. Both ICC and BCB exchanged proposals, while the PCB acted as the main coordinator during the discussions.

With ICC's deputy chief Khwaja returning to the cricketing body's headquarters for final approval of the proposals and BCB's Islam heading back to Bangladesh to brief Dhaka, the sources said that the ICC has responded positively to Bangladesh's demands, and a formula to address grievances with the BCB has been prepared.

Once the formula is agreed upon, ICC and BCB officials will reconnect in the afternoon today finalise the next steps, they added.

ICC-BCB saga

Tensions flared between the cricket boards of Bangladesh and India after Bangladesh’s star pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the direction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), sparking outrage in Dhaka.

Later, the BCB requested the ICC to shift its matches outside India, but the international cricket body rejected the plea.

Following the BCB’s firm stance, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, saying it was not feasible to change the schedule so close to the February 7 start of the event.

The PCB, however, reacted strongly to the ICC's decision and instead decided to boycott its India match over bias against Bangladesh.

Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative fixtures in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsorship and advertising revenue.

In commercial terms, the overall value of a single India-Pakistan T20 match is estimated at around $500 million, or approximately INR45,000 crore, when broadcast rights, advertising premiums, sponsorship activations, ticket sales and downstream commercial activity are taken into account.

According to a report, advertising slots during an India-Pakistan T20 match command between INR25 lakh and INR40 lakh for a 10-second spot, significantly higher than even knockout matches involving India against other top teams.

The most immediate financial impact would be felt by the official broadcast rights holder, as advertising revenue from the India-Pakistan match alone is estimated at around INR300 crore, the Indian publication cited industry projections as suggesting.