President, FM thank Pakistan for decision to play World T20 match with India in Colombo

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath have expressed their thanks to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Government of Pakistan for agreeing to Sri Lanka's request to give permission to the Pakistan Cricket team to play their much-anticipated World Cup T20 game against India in Colombo. The India-Pakistan clash had been in danger of being abandoned after the Pakistan government ordered the country's team to boycott its match with its arch-rival. 

President Dissanayake spoke to Prime Minister Sharif yesterday. The phone conversation occurred as negotiations were also ongoing between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to find a solution to the crisis and bring about an end to the boycott. 

"Thank you Prime Minister @CMShehbaz for ensuring the game we all love goes on.  Delighted that the eagerly awaited India and Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will proceed as planned," President Dissanayake said in a post on X, after the Pakistan government confirmed that the game will go ahead as planned. 

"As co-host of the tournament, Sri Lanka thanks the @ICC and all concerned for their efforts. Sri Lanka hasn’t forgotten the solidarity shown by both India and Pakistan during the 1996 World Cup, when they played in Colombo at a time when others refrained due to security concerns," President Dissanayake added. 

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath also took to X to convey his thanks to the Pakistani government and the PCB. "Thankful to Prime Minister @CMShehbaz, the Government of Pakistan, and @ForeignOfficePk for positively considering Sri Lanka’s request. I also appreciate @TheRealPCB and Pakistan’s sports authorities for their cooperation. A gesture that reflects sportsmanship, friendship, and the strength of our bilateral ties," Minister Herath stated. 

In a statement announcing the decision to allow the Pakistani team to play its match against India in Colombo, the Pakistan government said yesterday that the Prime Minister held a telephone call with President Dissanayake. "During their warm and friendly conversation, they recalled that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had always stood shoulder to shoulder, especially during challenging times. The Sri Lankan President requested the Prime Minister to accord serious consideration to amicably resolve the current impasse," the statement revealed. 

"In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup," the statement further said. 

The Pakistan government had earlier directed the country's cricket team to boycott its game against India in Colombo on February 15 over a row that erupted following the decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to remove Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, after the Bangladesh team refused to travel to India citing security concerns. They were later replaced by Scotland in the tournament. The ICC said yesterday that Bangladesh will not be penalised over their refusal to play their T20 World Cup matches in India.