Bangladesh ask Pakistan to play Feb 15 India clash as ICC talks intensify

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The thorny issue over whether Pakistan will take the field against India in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match on February 15 is edging closer to a resolution after pleas from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and discussions involving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and political leadership.

The BCB has formally asked Pakistan to play the marquee fixture against India, which was thrown into doubt after Bangladesh was controversially dropped from the tournament earlier.

Bangladesh had sought to have its group matches moved out of India, citing security concerns, but the ICC — widely seen to favour India — rejected the request and instead replaced Bangladesh with Scotland.

Meanwhile, BCB president Aminul Islam and an ICC delegation, including Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja, met PCB officials in Lahore to discuss the impasse.

Sources familiar with the talks said the BCB has appealed to Pakistan to reconsider what has been framed as a boycott of the India match, and negotiations could yield a breakthrough within 24 hours.

The PCB is expected to take its proposals to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for a final call after consultations, with both cricketing and political considerations at play.

Pakistan’s boycott move

Pakistan’s government and cricket board announced that the national team would participate in the T20 World Cup but would boycott the February 15 India clash in Colombo. The decision is intended to show solidarity with Bangladesh after the BCB’s exclusion from the event over its request to host its matches in Sri Lanka.

Under tournament rules, if Pakistan does not field a team, India would receive two points by default, a scenario that could affect Group A standings and tournament dynamics.

India’s cricket board has affirmed that the Indian team will still travel to Colombo and adhere to ICC protocols for the match, even if Pakistan does not show up — meaning India could officially claim victory by forfeiture.

Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket since 2012, meeting only in neutral venues at multi-nation events due to long-standing political tensions.

The PCB had earlier backed Bangladesh’s stance in a letter to the ICC, urging support for its request to move matches to Sri Lanka and highlighting perceived regional security concerns.

Cricketing, commercial and political stakes

The India vs Pakistan fixture is considered the most commercially lucrative in world cricket, drawing huge television audiences and sponsorship revenue. Its potential cancellation has sparked concern among cricket authorities and broadcasters.

Earlier, the Sri Lanka Cricket has also urged Pakistan to reconsider its boycott, warning that cancelling the fixture could adversely impact tourism and the sport’s financial ecosystem in the region.

As the tournament approaches, the ICC has called on all parties to “explore a mutually acceptable resolution” that protects the interests of fans, sponsors and participating nations, although it has reiterated that selective participation challenges the integrity of global competition.

With further diplomatic engagement expected this week, cricket followers around the world are watching to see whether one of the sport’s most historic rivalries will play out on the field or be decided off it.