Pakistan to decide on India match after consultations, PM tells Sri Lanka president

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a telephone conversation on Monday, with the upcoming Pakistan-India T20 World Cup match among the key topics discussed.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Dissanayake urged that the Pakistan team should play the high-profile fixture scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan president recalled Pakistan’s strong support for Sri Lankan cricket during difficult times, particularly when Sri Lanka was grappling with terrorism. He noted that Pakistan prioritised its longstanding ties with Sri Lanka and continued touring the island nation to play cricket despite security challenges.

Shehbaz welcomed the sentiments expressed by the Sri Lankan leader and said Sri Lanka, too, had stood by Pakistan during its own challenging periods, continuing to tour the country when several other teams stayed away. He also referred to Sri Lanka’s recent tour of Pakistan, describing it as an unforgettable gesture for Pakistani fans.

The Prime Minister told Dissanayake that Pakistan would convey its final decision on the T20 World Cup Pakistan-India match after consultations.

The Pakistan-India uncertainty

The fate of the Pakistan-India clash has remained uncertain after Pakistan announced it would boycott the February 15 group-stage match in protest over Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament.

Bangladesh had requested its matches be moved out of India due to security concerns, but the ICC rejected the request and replaced Bangladesh with Scotland — a move that drew criticism from Pakistan.

The PCB has since been in discussions with the ICC, with Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja tasked with resolving the issue. Any decision to play the fixture is expected to follow consultations at the highest government level.

With the tournament approaching, the Pakistan-India match — typically the most commercially significant game in any ICC event — remains at the centre of diplomatic and cricketing negotiations.