Politics

The Pakistani government confirmed on Monday that the T20 World Cup match against India will take place in Colombo on February 15. A post on X revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a briefing from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi about discussions that took place between the PCB, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The statement said, "The Government of Pakistan has looked into the formal requests made to the PCB by the BCB, along with supportive messages from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other member countries. These messages asked for Pakistan’s leadership in finding a good solution to recent issues." The government also mentioned a statement from BCB President Aminul Islam, expressing gratitude from Bangladesh, which was warmly received. "Pakistan reaffirms its support for Bangladesh," the statement added. It noted that earlier that day, PM Shehbaz had a phone call with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. "During their friendly talk, they remembered how Pakistan and Sri Lanka have always supported each other, especially in tough times. The Sri Lankan president urged the prime minister to consider a peaceful resolution to the current situation," the statement continued. "Considering the results of the talks and the requests from friendly nations, the government of Pakistan has instructed the national cricket team to participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match on February 15, 2026." The government emphasized that this decision aims to uphold the spirit of cricket and support the continuation of this global sport in all participating countries. "The prime minister and the people of Pakistan wish the Men in Green the best of luck. We believe that our team will embody sportsmanship and national pride as they strive for success on the global stage," the statement concluded.