Pakistan has decided to play its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, revisiting its boycott decision, at the request of Sri Lanka, state media confirmed on Monday.
Sources privy to the matter revealed that the decision came during a telephonic contact between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Pakistan had decided not to play against arch-rival India in solidarity with Bangladesh, who were kicked out of the tournament for citing security concerns and standing firm on their decision not to send their team to New Delhi.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders discussed the T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and India during the telephone call.
The Sri Lankan president requested PM Shehbaz that Pakistani cricket team should play the Pakistan-India match in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan fully supported Sri Lankan cricket during the terrorism in Sri Lanka, the president said, adding Pakistan gave priority to its long-standing relations with Sri Lanka above all else and the Pakistani cricket team continued to tour Sri Lanka to play cricket despite terrorism.
PM Shehbaz welcomed the sentiments of the Sri Lankan president.
He said that Sri Lanka also provided full support in difficult times and cricket continued in Pakistan.
“Recently, the Sri Lankan team took an unforgettable step for the Pakistani nation and cricket fans by not cancelling the tour of Pakistan,” the PM added.
PM Shehbaz told the Sri Lankan president that he will inform him of the final decision after consultations regarding the Pakistan-India match of the T20 World Cup.
Separately, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam, in a statement, requested Pakistan to play their scheduled game against India.
A day after visiting Pakistan, the BCB president expressing gratitude to the PCB chief for his support.
“The BCB wishes to express its profound and heartfelt gratitude to PCB Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, his Board and the cricket fans of Pakistan. Throughout this period, the PCB has demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity,” read the statement issued by the BCB.
The BCB president said that Dhaka was “deeply moved” by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh in its dispute with the ICC.
“Following 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 eco system,” he said.
The BCB also appreciated ICC and all involved for their positive roles in trying to overcome the recent crisis.
On Sunday, the PCB and the ICC along with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held talks for more than five hours with Naqvi, BCB President Aminul Islam and ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja in attendance.
During the meeting, the sources said, the ICC responded positively to Bangladesh’s demands, and a formula to address grievances with the BCB has been prepared. Both ICC and BCB exchanged proposals, while the PCB acted as the main coordinator during the discussions.
With ICC’s deputy chief Khwaja returning to the cricketing body’s headquarters for final approval of the proposals and BCB’s Islam heading back to Bangladesh to brief Dhaka, the sources said that the ICC has responded positively to Bangladesh’s demands, and a formula to address grievances with the BCB has been prepared.
Once the formula is agreed upon, ICC and BCB officials will reconnect finalise the next steps, they added.