Pakistan has agreed to play against India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, confirming that the match will take place on 15 February at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, with a scheduled start time of 7 pm.
The confirmation ends weeks of uncertainty over Pakistan’s participation in the fixture. Pakistan had initially appeared reluctant to play the match against India, but following extended discussions and international pressure, the Pakistan team agreed to take part in the contest.
The issue drew further attention after Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi referred to the military during a press conference and mentioned Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. Naqvi sought to involve the military leadership in the discussions, linking the matter to the broader political and cricket-related dispute.
During his remarks, Naqvi stated that Pakistan was not afraid of threats from India or the ICC. He said that neither he nor the Pakistan government was fearful, and added that Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir was also not afraid of any pressure or threats.
Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had both opposed playing against India. On 1 February, the Pakistani government posted on its official X social media handle that Pakistan would not play the match against India, which became a topic of widespread discussion.
Pakistan’s position later changed following a prolonged meeting between PCB chief Naqvi and an ICC panel. Naqvi subsequently briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the situation, after which the Prime Minister approved participation in the match.
India and Pakistan are scheduled to face each other in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on 15 February at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The match will begin at 7 pm, and both teams are placed in Group A of the tournament.
India began its campaign with a 29-run victory over the United States, while Pakistan secured a three-wicket win against the Netherlands on 7 February.
Field Marshal Asim Munir also issued a statement saying that he was not afraid of any pressure or threats and that efforts by India or the ICC would not affect the morale of the Pakistan team. The statement came amid continued media focus on the uncertainty surrounding the fixture.
Some experts described the developments as an attempt to frame the issue as a civil-military matter involving the Pakistan Cricket Board and the military. Pakistan ultimately decided to play the match against India after considering its political and military interests.
