ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan will play against India on February 15; Shehbaz Sharif government bows to ICC
India and Pakistan will face each other in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15th. The Pakistani government announced this on Monday night via a post on its X (formerly Twitter) account.
The post stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had received a phone call from Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who appealed to him to allow the match against India to proceed. Additionally, Aminul Islam, the president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, had also recommended to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the match be played.
Earlier, on February 1st, Pakistan had announced a boycott of the match against India in protest against Bangladesh's exclusion from the T20 World Cup. However, they had agreed to play the remaining matches.
The India-Pakistan match is considered the biggest and most lucrative match in the world of cricket. Its cancellation would have resulted in huge losses for the ICC, broadcasters, and member boards. The fact that the match will now take place as scheduled has brought great relief to the tournament and the entire cricket ecosystem. This has restored stability among players, organizers, and fans.
Pakistan will play all their games in Sri Lanka. The March 8 final is scheduled for Ahmedabad but would be moved to Colombo if Pakistan reach the final.
Crucial meeting held in Lahore
The meeting in Lahore lasted for several hours, during which the ICC did not agree to most of the demands put forward by Pakistan. Following this, the PCB softened its stance on the boycott, paving the way for the match to proceed. In the meeting, Pakistan had put forward several conditions, including those related to bilateral series, triangular series, and the handshake controversy, all of which were rejected by the ICC.
ICC's decision brings relief to Bangladesh
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will not face any financial or administrative penalties for refusing to play matches in India. The BCB also retains the right to approach the dispute resolution committee. The ICC has decided that Bangladesh will host one ICC tournament between 2028 and 2031.