Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake penned a thank-you note to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after Pakistan confirmed it would play India in their much-awaited ICC Men’s T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on February 15. The message came soon after Pakistan made a dramatic U-turn on its proposed boycott, clearing the way for the tournament’s biggest fixture to go ahead as scheduled.
The India vs Pakistan match had briefly been thrown into uncertainty after Pakistan floated the possibility of refusing to take the field. However, following an extended meeting on Monday involving the PCB, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), Pakistan reversed its stance and confirmed it would play the fixture as scheduled. Taking to X after the decision, Dissanayake expressed relief and gratitude, while acknowledging the efforts made behind the scenes to keep the contest intact.
“Thank you, Prime Minister @CMShehbaz for ensuring the game we all love goes on. Delighted that the eagerly awaited India and Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will proceed as planned," he wrote.
“As co-host of the tournament, Sri Lanka thanks the @ICC and all concerned for their efforts. Sri Lanka hasn’t forgotten the solidarity shown by both India and Pakistan during the 1996 World Cup, when they played in Colombo at a time when others refrained due to security concerns," he added.
Pakistan’s change of stance followed a series of high-level talks involving the PCB, the ICC, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The meeting in Pakistan's Gaddafi stadium, which stretched for at least five hours, was aimed at ensuring that the World Cup’s most high-profile and profitable match was not derailed.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi later briefed Prime Minister Sharif on what was discussed and the outcomes achieved. Soon after, the Government of Pakistan confirmed through its official social media account that the national team would take the field against India on February 15.
Sharif said the decision was shaped by requests from “friendly countries,” naming Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the UAE, along with the progress made through multilateral discussions with ICC officials.
In the build-up to the announcement, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul also urged Pakistan to play the match, stressing the importance of keeping the tournament’s marquee fixture on track. Sri Lanka Cricket, too, had reportedly written to the PCB earlier, asking them to reconsider their refusal.
Pakistan’s initial boycott threat was linked to its support for Bangladesh, who were removed from the tournament after citing security concerns. Pakistan signalled it would not play against arch-rival India as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh’s position.
However, the scale of an India-Pakistan World Cup fixture meant the pressure to reverse course mounted quickly. With intervention from the ICC and strong persuasion from co-host Sri Lanka, Pakistan ultimately stepped back from the boycott call.
The U-turn ensures the February 15 clash in Colombo will proceed as planned, keeping the tournament’s biggest rivalry alive where it matters most, on the field.
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Link:
https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...t-thank-you-shehbaz-sharif-2865776-2026-02-10