Pakistan has made a U-turn on its earlier stance and announced that it will play against India as per the original schedule of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The high-profile India vs Pakistan match will now take place in Colombo on February 15, as planned earlier, after the Pakistani government backtracked from its previous position of not taking the field for the fixture.

In a fresh statement released on Monday night, the Government of Pakistan confirmed that it is allowing its national cricket team to play the match against India. Soon after this announcement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) also confirmed the development and stated that its discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were successful.

The decision came after a series of negotiations between the ICC and PCB, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also involved in the talks. The boards of Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were also mentioned as being part of the broader engagement process.

Just before the official announcement by the Pakistani government, BCB chief Animul Islam urged Pakistan to play India, saying it would benefit the entire cricketing ecosystem. Following this, the Pakistani government said that communications from multiple cricket boards had requested Pakistan’s leadership help resolve challenges related to the World Cup, prompting the government to reverse its earlier stance.

In its official statement, the Government of Pakistan said, “The Government of Pakistan has reviewed the formal requests extended to the PCB by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, as well as the supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other member nations. These correspondences sought Pakistan’s leadership in securing a viable solution to recent challenges.”

The statement further added, “The Government further noted the statement by BCB President, Mr Amin ul Islam. The profound gratitude expressed by our brotherly nation is received with great warmth. Pakistan reaffirms that it stands shoulder to shoulder with Bangladesh.”

The government also revealed that Pakistan’s Prime Minister held a phone call with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the discussion played an important role in the final decision.

The statement said, “This evening, the Prime Minister held a telephone call with H.E. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka. During their warm and friendly conversation, they recalled that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had always stood shoulder to shoulder, especially during challenging times. The Sri Lankan President requested the Prime Minister to accord serious consideration to amicably resolve the current impasse.”

After referring to the outcome of these talks and the involvement of friendly nations, the Pakistani government confirmed that the team will participate in the scheduled match.

The statement concluded, “In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”

Following the announcement, the ICC also issued its own statement and said that its engagement with PCB had been successful. The ICC stated that the decision was taken in the best interests of cricket and in a spirit of cooperation among all members.

The ICC said, “The dialogue between ICC and PCB took place as part of a broader engagement with both parties recognising the need for constructive dealings and being united, committed and purposeful in their aspirations to serve the best interests of the game with integrity, neutrality and cooperation.”

The ICC further added, “In that prevailing spirit, it was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success.”

With the impasse now resolved, India and Pakistan are set to face each other on Sunday, February 15. The fixture is widely seen as one of the most commercially valuable matches in world cricket, and the confirmation ensures that the much-awaited clash will go ahead as per schedule.

The development marks a significant shift in Pakistan’s earlier position and confirms that the match will remain part of the tournament calendar, following discussions involving the ICC, PCB, and cricket boards from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the UAE, and other member nations.