Former India cricketer Madan Lal has welcomed Pakistan’s decision to reverse its boycott and play India in their group-stage clash of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, calling the move vital for the tournament’s appeal.
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Speaking to ANI, Madan Lal said the India–Pakistan contest is central to the World Cup’s excitement and warned that its absence would have dulled the competition. He also pointed out that Pakistan could face added pressure going into the high-profile fixture, given their recent struggles against India. The much-anticipated match is scheduled to be played on February 15 at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.
‘The charm of the tournament would have died’, says Madan Lal
“It is good that they are playing, else the charm of the tournament would have died, and they would have also suffered financial loss. We’ve heard that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had put pressure on them. The India-Pakistan match is always exciting. Both teams are very good. There could be more pressure on the Pakistan team as they haven't won many matches against India lately. The game of cricket should not weaken,” Madan Lal said.
His remarks came shortly after the Government of Pakistan formally directed its national team to take the field against defending champions India, ending days of uncertainty over the fixture. According to an official statement, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took the decision after being briefed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on the outcomes of high-level talks involving the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Pakistan had earlier announced a boycott of the match as a political gesture of solidarity with Bangladesh, who were removed from the tournament after the ICC rejected their request to relocate matches outside India citing security considerations.
The breakthrough came following diplomatic outreach from multiple cricket boards and governments. Sharif also held a telephone conversation with Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who urged Pakistan to consider an amicable resolution to the impasse in the interest of the tournament.
“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 Pakistan government said in its statement.
The release further noted that Pakistan had received formal requests from the Bangladesh Cricket Board, supported by communications from Sri Lanka, the UAE and other ICC member nations, seeking Pakistan’s leadership in resolving the crisis.
Earlier, Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul had also appealed to Pakistan to play the match, acknowledging Pakistan’s support and stressing the need to move forward in the spirit of cooperation.
Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the 2026 edition after the ICC declined their request to stage all matches outside India. The move followed security-related concerns raised by Bangladesh, which intensified after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was withdrawn from the tournament following instructions from the BCCI.
With Pakistan’s U-turn now official, the marquee India–Pakistan clash is set to go ahead as scheduled, restoring one of the World Cup’s biggest attractions.
