Pakistan to play T20 World Cup match against India in Sri Lanka

By Najmus Sakib and Berk Kutay Gokmen

DHAKA, Bangladesh / ISTANBUL (AA) – Pakistan on Monday agreed to play its T20 World Cup match against India in Sri Lanka on Feb. 15, Pakistan’s state-run television reported.

The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision followed requests from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, with the Green Shirts set to face the Indian team in Colombo.

Pakistan had earlier decided not to play the match against its arch-rival India after Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the tournament.

Bangladesh had refused to tour India over safety concerns amid strained political relations between the neighboring countries.

The men’s T20 World Cup is being held from Feb. 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also spoke with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, urging Pakistan to play the match against India in Sri Lanka, Pakistani state media reported.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul also requested Pakistan to play the group-stage match against India in the tournament.

The BCB later expressed its “sincere appreciation” to the PCB for its “positive role in trying to overcome recent challenges.”

Separately, the International Cricket Council (ICC), PCB and BCB held what was described as an “open, constructive and congenial dialogue” on Monday.

Following the meeting, the ICC said an agreement had been reached for Bangladesh to host an ICC event ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2031.