After the boycott threat, Pakistan have finally agreed to play the India vs Pakistan match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. This came after weeks of tension and uncertainty around the biggest match of the tournament.
The breakthrough happened after a three-way meeting in Lahore between the ICC, PCB, and BCB. ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja acted as the mediator. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi represented Pakistan, while former cricketer Aminul Islam represented Bangladesh. The meeting was described as “open, constructive, and congenial.”
The ICC later released an official update and confirmed that Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament was unfortunate, but it would not damage Bangladesh’s status as a Full Member. The ICC also assured that Bangladesh would not face any long-term effects from missing the tournament.
The ICC also agreed that Bangladesh would not face any financial, sporting, or administrative penalty. Along with that, Bangladesh were given assurance of hosting rights for a future ICC event. However, Bangladesh still has the option to approach the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee if it wants.
The match was originally scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, and tickets were sold out within minutes when fixtures were announced. Sri Lanka had already prepared for the huge crowd, with hotel bookings and tourism activity rising sharply in Colombo.
India vs Pakistan Boycott Fiasco Timeline
Mustafizur Rahman Dropped from KKR as Bangladesh Refuse India Tour
The boycott issue started after Mustafizur Rahman was excluded from Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2026 squad because the BCCI instructed KKR to release him. On June 3, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told ANI that KKR had been told to release Mustafizur because of “recent developments that are going on all across.”
After the auction, the political situation between the two countries reportedly became more tense. As the situation became more heated, there were also public calls against KKR and even against their owner Shah Rukh Khan, with some political and spiritual leaders questioning why the franchise bought a Bangladeshi player.
After that, Bangladesh refused to travel to India for their group matches, citing security concerns. Bangladesh were then replaced by Scotland, which angered Pakistan. PCB accused the ICC of “double standards” and unfair treatment toward Bangladesh.
PCB Pauses T20 World Cup Plans as Bangladesh Seek Venue Shift
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) paused Pakistan’s preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 because Bangladesh’s participation was uncertain. PCB officials were expected to brief the team management about the situation and possible options. PCB was also asked to prepare a backup plan in case Pakistan decided to pull out of the tournament.
Pakistan supported Bangladesh’s decision not to travel to India and said it would review its own participation if the issue stayed unresolved. BCB then wrote to the ICC asking to move their T20 World Cup matches away from India because they did not want to travel there.
After ICC rejected the venue change request, BCB proposed swapping groups with Ireland, since Ireland was set to play all matches in Sri Lanka. That request was also rejected. The ICC then told BCB to confirm their participation by January 21.
Pakistan Refuses the India vs Pakistan Match at First, Before Ending the Boycott Under ICC Pressure
Pakistan then confirmed it will take part in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, but the government said the team will not play the India vs Pakistan group match on February 15 in Colombo. This happened after the ICC removed Bangladesh from the tournament because Bangladesh refused to play matches in India, saying they had security concerns.
Pakistan’s decision was seen as a protest linked to Bangladesh’s removal. The Pakistani government gave approval for the team to play the tournament, but clearly said Pakistan would not take the field against India. The ICC reacted strongly and said that selective participation is against the basic rules of an international tournament.
PCB faced pressure from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Emirates, all of whom wanted the India-Pakistan game to happen. Because of this pressure, Mohsin Naqvi reportedly had to return to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to push for reversing the boycott decision. The match is now back on track, and only the final official confirmation is left.
FAQs
Q. When is the India vs Pakistan match?
A. The India vs Pakistan match is on February 15.
Q. Where will the India vs Pakistan match be played?
A. The match will be played in Colombo.
Q. Who announced Pakistan’s decision to end the boycott?
A. The Pakistan government announced the decision.
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