India on Tuesday said facing a “quality” Pakistan side in Colombo would be a major challenge after authorities in Islamabad instructed their national team to play the scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match on February 15, ending days of uncertainty around the high-profile fixture.
Read More: India calls Pakistan a ‘quality’ side ahead of high-voltage showdown
The federal government late Monday withdrew its earlier directive for Pakistan to boycott the match, resolving a week-long stand-off that had threatened one of the most anticipated encounters in world cricket. The decision followed intense diplomatic and sporting negotiations involving the International Cricket Council (ICC) and regional cricket boards.
پاکستان کا بڑا فیصلہ، کولمبو میں بھارت کے خلاف میچ
بھارت کے ساتھ نہ کھیلنے کا فیصلہ بنگلہ دیش سے اظہارِ یکجہتی کے لیے کیا گیا تھا۔ یہ میچ پاکستان کرکٹ کے ایک نئے دور کا آغاز ہے۔
نجم ولی خان۔#PTVnewsHD
#PTV#Bangladesh @najamwalikhan pic.twitter.com/MSwhGvByor— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) February 11, 2026
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate welcomed the development, saying preparations had continued despite the uncertainty. “It’s great that the game is back on. We kind of never changed the preparation,” he said. He added that playing Pakistan in Colombo would be demanding, given that the Pakistani team has already spent two weeks there acclimatising.
India will first face Namibia in New Delhi on Thursday before flying to Sri Lanka, making for a tight turnaround ahead of Sunday’s marquee clash. “We are delighted to have another chance to play against a quality side in the first phase of the tournament,” Ten Doeschate said.
Pakistan, meanwhile, boosted confidence with a 32-run victory over the United States in Colombo. Opener Sahibzada Farhan, who scored 73, said the team was upbeat. “The match is on and we are in a confident mood,” he said, adding that Pakistan aimed to deliver a stronger performance than in last year’s Asia Cup, where India defeated them three times.
Read More: Pakistan confirms participation in T20 World Cup match against India
The decision to proceed with the match was widely praised by former players, officials and analysts, who described it as “good for cricket” and in keeping with the spirit of the game. Sri Lanka, the host venue, also welcomed the move, noting the match’s significance for fans, broadcasters and the global cricket economy.