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The government announced on Monday that Pakistan would play the T20 World Cup match against India.<\/p>\n
In a post on X, the government said the decision was taken with the aim of \u201cprotecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations\u201d.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The development comes as a delegation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) arrived<\/a> in the country and held meetings with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on the team\u2019s participation in the match against India.<\/p>\n Earlier, Sri Lanka\u2019s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged Pakistan to play its T20 World Cup clash against India. He made the request during a phone call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the Prime Minister\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n \u201cPakistan fully supported Sri Lankan cricket during terrorism in Sri Lanka,\u201d he was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n \u201cPakistan gave priority to its long-standing relations with Sri Lanka above all else, and the Pakistani cricket team continued to tour the country to play cricket despite terrorism,\u201d Dissanayake said.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The premier welcomed the Sri Lankan president\u2019s sentiments and noted how Colombo also stood with Islamabad during difficult times and kept cricket going in Pakistan.<\/p>\n \u201cRecently, the Sri Lankan team took an unforgettable step for the Pakistani nation and cricket fans by not cancelling the tour of Pakistan<\/a>,\u201d PM Shehbaz was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n According to the statement, PM Shehbaz said he would inform the Sri Lankan president about a \u201cfinal decision\u201d regarding the Pak-India match after consultations.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, in a statement, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) thanked the PCB for its solidarity, while BCB President Aminul Islam urged Pakistan to play the February 15 match against India.<\/p>\n The BCB expressed gratitude to the PCB and ICC for their \u201cpositive roles in trying to overcome recent challenges\u201d, particularly thanking the PCB, its Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and cricket fans in Pakistan for their support.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout this period, the PCB has demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Quoting BCB President Islam, the statement read, \u201cWe are deeply moved by Pakistan\u2019s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,\u201d Islam added.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the ICC said that it would not impose any penalty on the BCB for opting out of the T20 World Cup and also agreed that the country would host an ICC event prior to the 2031 tournament.<\/p>\n In a statement, the ICC said that it had concluded<\/a> an \u201copen, constructive and congenial dialogue\u201d with PCB and BCB officials, saying that the meeting was not limited to the tournament in India, but the \u201cbroader outlook for cricket in South Asia\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile reflecting on the Bangladesh cricket team\u2019s unfortunate absence from the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup, the global governing body for cricket reaffirmed BCB\u2019s position as a valued full member, with a proud cricketing history and a vital role in the growth of the global game,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n The statement reiterated the ICC\u2019s continued facilitation of growth in one of cricket\u2019s \u201cmost vibrant\u201d markets, with more than 200 million passionate fans, to ensure that Bangladesh\u2019s non-participation in the tournament did not have any long-term effects on cricket in the country.<\/p>\n Sharing the highlights of the dialogue with BCB and PCB officials, the statement said that it reflected \u201ca forward-looking alignment reached in good faith\u201d and was \u201cintended to provide clarity on the current position of the stakeholders\u201d.<\/p>\n It further mentioned that these outcomes did not \u201calter, qualify or detract from the ICC\u2019s constitutional autonomy, governance framework or established decision-making processes\u201d, all of which remained fully applicable.<\/p>\n The governing body added that it was agreed that \u201cno financial, sporting or administrative penalty will be imposed on [the] BCB\u201d in relation to the current matter.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is acknowledged that BCB retains the right to approach the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), should it choose to do so. This right exists under current ICC regulations and remains intact,\u201d it stated.<\/p>\n The statement noted that the ICC\u2019s approach was guided by its principles of neutrality and fairness and reflected the shared objective of facilitative support rather than punishment.<\/p>\n Moreover, all the parties reached an agreement that Bangladesh would host an ICC event prior to the Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup in 2031, \u201csubject to the usual ICC hosting processes, timelines and operational requirements,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis reflects confidence in Bangladesh\u2019s capability as a host and reinforces the ICC\u2019s commitment to providing meaningful hosting opportunities across its membership to develop cricket in the country,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n It added that the governing body, the Pakistani and Bangladeshi boards and other members remained committed to continued dialogue, cooperation and constructive engagement in the best interests of the sport.<\/p>\n \u201cAll stakeholders acknowledge that the spirit of this understanding is to protect the integrity of the game and preserve unity within the cricket fraternity,\u201d the statement read<\/p>\n ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta was quoted as saying, \u201cBangladesh\u2019s absence from the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup is regrettable, but it does not alter the ICC\u2019s enduring commitment to Bangladesh as a core cricketing nation.<\/p>\n \u201cOur focus continues to be on working closely with key stakeholders, including BCB, to ensure the sport grows sustainably in the country and that future opportunities for its players and fans are strengthened,\u201d Gupta said.<\/p>\n He further added that Bangladesh remained a priority cricket ecosystem deserving of long-term investment in its development, competitiveness and global integration, and was not defined by short-term disruptions.<\/p>\n The government had given the cricket team the nod<\/u><\/a> to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026, but said the Green Shirts would not play their match with arch-rivals India, scheduled to be held in Colombo.<\/p>\n The decision had come after Bangladesh were replaced<\/u><\/a> by Scotland in the tournament, following their refusal<\/u><\/a> to tour India over safety concerns in the wake of soured political relations between the Asian neighbours.<\/p>\n Subsequently, Sri Lanka\u2019s cricket board asked<\/u><\/a> Pakistan to reconsider the decision to boycott the match; Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) told the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that a boycott would result in a financial hit and also hurt the island\u2019s tourism industry, which is still recovering from the 2022 economic meltdown<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n It should be mentioned that Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a>Sri Lanka urges Pakistan to play match<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a>No penalty on Bangladesh for opting out of World Cup: ICC<\/h2>\n
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