Pakistan government allows team to play India at T20 World Cup
Pakistan’s U-turn on boycotting India at the T20 World Cup is now official.
In a notification issued late on Monday night, the Pakistan government allowed its cricket team to take the field against India on February 15 in the T20 World Cup, which means the match will go ahead as per the original schedule.
The statement ends days of speculation on whether the “costliest cricket match in the world”, with some reports valuing it at over Rs 4,000 crore, would happen or not.
The development came a day after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and the International Cricket Council (ICC) met in Lahore.
“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,” the Pakistan government said in a statement.
“Moreover, this decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket and supporting the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations .”