The statement from the Pakistan government confirmed that a number of ICC members, including Sri Lanka and the UAE, had urged the PCB not to boycott their fixture against India, citing the financial impact on other nations. It also confirmed that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had spoken to Sri Lanka President Kumara Dissanayake.
“The Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shehbaz Sharif has been formally briefed by the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, regarding the outcomes of high-level deliberations held between the PCB, representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
“In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Moreover, this decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations,” the government statement concluded.
The ICC, in reaction to the Pakistan government’s statement, called the talks “successful”. “The dialogue between ICC and PCB took place as part of a broader engagement with both parties recognising the need for constructive dealings and being united, committed and purposeful in their aspirations to serve the best interests of the game with integrity, neutrality and cooperation.
“In that prevailing spirit, it was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success.”
While ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB pushed for discussions on a more equitable ICC revenue share model to be placed on the table, neither the Pakistan government nor the ICC made reference to that in their statements. The decision not to penalise Bangladesh for their non-participation in the T20 World Cup, after they were excluded from the tournament for refusing to play in India, appears to be the most significant concession all parties agreed to.
On Monday evening, developments unfolded quickly. The PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said a decision on Pakistan’s game against India could come in the next 24-48 hours. Minutes earlier, the ICC had released its statement on Bangladesh, softening their stance towards and confirming that no penalty would be levied on them. Furthermore, the BCB was granted hosting rights for an additional ICC tournament in the 2028-2031 cycle. As a result, the BCB issued a statement thanking the PCB for its support, and asking them to take part in their fixture against India. Following all of this came the Pakistan government’s statement.
On Sunday, the BCB chairman Aminul Islam and ICC director Imran Khawaja had arrived in Lahore for negotiations with the PCB. The PCB was the only member other than the BCB to vote against Bangladesh’s removal from the T20 World Cup at an ICC board meeting. Naqvi had accused the ICC of “double standards” over that decision and said Bangladesh had suffered an “injustice”. The treatment of Bangladesh over that matter was prominent in the discussions with ICC, and the PCB linked any resolution of the India match boycott to some form of redress for Bangladesh.