India-Pakistan T20 World Cup game likely to go ahead after ICC talks with PCB: Report
February 8, 2026 04:30 pm
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a major turnaround, is poised to reverse its earlier boycott decision and field the team against India in their highly anticipated T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match on February 15 in Colombo.
Sources within the PCB have indicated a “99 per cent chance” that the fixture will proceed as scheduled, following intense back-channel negotiations with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
India vs Pakistan match may happen in T20 World Cup Two ICC representatives flew to Lahore for a talk with PCB amid the current impasse on Sunday (February 8).
And a report from Times of India states that the ice may have finally melted, and the India vs Pakistan clash is back on for February 15 in Colombo.
The controversy erupted when Pakistan, under government directives, announced it would skip the India game in solidarity with Bangladesh, which had been replaced by Scotland after refusing to travel to India over security concerns. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had publicly backed the selective boycott, while the PCB invoked the ‘force majeure’ clause to justify non-participation.
However, the ICC rejected the claim, demanding detailed justification and warning of severe financial penalties, potentially running into hundreds of millions of dollars due to lost broadcast and sponsorship revenue from the global marquee clash. An ICC delegation, including deputy chair Imran Khawaja, arrived in Lahore on February 8 for crucial talks with PCB officials. Bangladesh Cricket Board president Amin ul Islam also joined discussions in Lahore to help broker a resolution.
Reports confirm that ongoing meetings have softened Pakistan’s stance significantly, while the PCB has publicly denied initiating direct approaches in some statements, multiple credible sources now point to active dialogue leading toward full participation. India has maintained its position throughout, with captain Suryakumar Yadav confirming the team’s readiness to travel to Colombo.
- Agencies
