In a significant development for international cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has formally requested Pakistan to reconsider its decision to boycott the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup match against India scheduled for February 15th in Colombo. The appeal came during a high-level meeting in Lahore involving representatives from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The diplomatic standoff originated last month when the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India, one of the co-hosts of the event. Pakistan subsequently announced their boycott of the India match in solidarity with their cricketing neighbors.
In a related development, the ICC announced on Monday that it would not impose any sporting, financial, or administrative penalties on Bangladesh for their decision not to play in India. The global governing body further revealed that Bangladesh would host an ICC event prior to the 2031 50-over World Cup, which is set to be co-hosted by India and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Mohammad Aminul Islam expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support while emphasizing the importance of the India-Pakistan match for the global cricket community. ‘We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period… I request Pakistan to play the game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,’ Islam stated.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that his team would travel to Colombo for Sunday’s match regardless of Pakistan’s participation decision, highlighting the ongoing complexities in one of cricket’s most storied rivalries.