Lahore, February 9, 2026: Pakistan has agreed to play its highly anticipated T20 World Cup match against arch-rivals India on February 15, state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) reported on Monday.
In a post on social media platform X, the broadcaster said Pakistan accepted the fixture following requests from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, adding that India had agreed to Pakistan’s preconditions for the match.
The development came shortly after Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged Pakistan to go ahead with the contest during a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
President Dissanayake recalled Pakistan’s support for Sri Lankan cricket during periods of terrorism and appreciated Islamabad for prioritizing long-standing bilateral ties. Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed the sentiments, noting that Sri Lanka had also stood by Pakistan during difficult times and continued cricket engagements in the country.
“Recently, the Sri Lankan team took an unforgettable step for the Pakistani nation and cricket fans by not cancelling the tour of Pakistan,” the premier was quoted as saying, adding that he would convey the final decision after consultations.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its solidarity and urged it to play the February 15 match. BCB President Aminul Islam praised Pakistan’s “exemplary sportsmanship,” saying, “We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish.”
Islam also requested Pakistan to participate in the match “for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,” following discussions during his recent visit to Pakistan.
Earlier, the government had permitted the national team to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026 but initially decided against playing India in Colombo. The stance emerged after Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the tournament due to Dhaka’s refusal to tour India over security concerns amid strained political relations.
Sri Lanka Cricket had subsequently warned that a boycott could result in financial losses and negatively impact the island nation’s tourism sector, which is still recovering from the 2022 economic crisis.
A delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) also visited Pakistan on Sunday and held meetings with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi regarding the team’s participation in the high-profile encounter.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha has indicated that if the two sides meet again in the semi-final or final, the team would consult the government before making a decision.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for over a decade and now face each other only in multinational tournaments, making their clashes among the most anticipated events in world cricket.
