The government announced on Monday that Pakistan will play its T20 World Cup match against India. The decision aims at “protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations,” the government said on X. This came after an ICC delegation met Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to discuss Pakistan's participation. Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged Pakistan to play the match against India. He called Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and reminded him how Pakistan stood with Sri Lankan cricket during tough times. PM Shehbaz welcomed Sri Lanka’s support and promised to update the Sri Lankan president after final consultations. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) thanked the PCB and ICC for their efforts during recent issues. BCB President Aminul Islam also urged Pakistan to play on February 15 against India, saying, “Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday... I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game ... for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.” The ICC confirmed it will not penalize Bangladesh for opting out of the World Cup. Instead, Bangladesh will host an ICC event before the 2031 World Cup. The ICC said its talks with PCB and BCB were “open, constructive and congenial.” ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said, "Bangladesh’s absence from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is regrettable, but it does not alter the ICC’s enduring commitment to Bangladesh as a core cricketing nation." The government had earlier allowed Pakistan to be in the tournament but said they would not play India in Colombo. This was due to Bangladesh’s refusal to tour India citing safety concerns amid political tensions. Sri Lanka Cricket asked Pakistan to rethink boycotting the game, warning it would hurt Sri Lanka’s finances and tourism. Notably, Pakistan and India haven’t played bilateral cricket for over a decade and meet only in global tournaments.