Pakistan have agreed to play India in the T20 World Cup match scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka on Sunday, reversing a decision to boycott the game citing geopolitical tensions.
Pakistan announced their decision to boycott the match in Colombo after the International Cricket Council last month replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament, following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to the co-hosts India. Following negotiations on Monday, the Pakistan government announced the game would be played.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board had earlier urged Pakistan to play in Colombo after meeting the ICC and the Pakistan Cricket Board in Lahore.
Following the meeting, the ICC said it would not impose any sporting, financial or administrative penalty on Bangladesh for their refusal to play in India, and announced that Bangladesh would host an ICC event before the 50-over World Cup of 2031, which is to 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,” the Bangladesh Cricket Board president, Mohammad Aminul Islam, said in a statement.
The India captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has said his team will travel to Colombo for Sunday’s match despite Pakistan’s decision to boycott it.
