Pakistan have confirmed a U-turn on their earlier decision and will now take the field against India in their T20 World Cup group match on 15 February. The reversal comes after weeks of uncertainty, during which the Pakistan government had barred the national team from playing the fixture in solidarity with Bangladesh, who were withdrawn from the tournament by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The change in stance followed a series of discussions involving Pakistan, Bangladesh, the ICC and several other cricket boards, including Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. The decision was officially confirmed on Monday, bringing an end to the prolonged standoff.

Moments before the formal announcement, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi had attended a Pakistan Super League (PSL) press conference, where he was repeatedly questioned about Pakistan’s boycott position.

After the press conference, Naqvi was approached by an interviewer seeking clarity on Pakistan’s talks with the ICC. While stopping short of an official confirmation, the PCB chief strongly hinted at the impending U-turn.

When asked whether Pakistan had secured any concessions during negotiations, Naqvi replied, “Apne liye kuch nahi kiya” (I didn’t do anything for myself).

“Bas ab thodi der mein faisla ho jayega,” he added. (A decision will be made shortly.)

Asked if positive news was expected, Naqvi responded, “Hum to har waqt acchi khabar hi dete hain” (We always bring good news).

Also Read: Pakistan reverses boycott decision, set to clash with India on February 15

Referring to Bangladesh’s appeal, Naqvi said, “Aapne Bangladesh ki statement dekhi hogi. Bangladesh ne request ki hai Pakistan se ki hum match khelein. Definitely, unka saara maamla tay hua hai, tabhi unhone ye request ki hai.”
(You must have seen Bangladesh’s statement. They have requested Pakistan to play the match. Clearly, their issues have been resolved, which is why they made this request.)

When pressed on whether Pakistan had negotiated any terms of its own, Naqvi reiterated, “Humne Bangladesh ke liye stand liya tha. Unhi ki baat thi. Hamne apne liye kuch nahi kiya.”
(We took a stand for Bangladesh. It was their issue. We didn’t do anything for ourselves.)

Following the official resolution, the ICC also released a statement confirming the end of the weeks-long impasse.

“In that prevailing spirit, it was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success,” the ICC said.

It is understood that the ICC rejected three demands put forward by the PCB during negotiations, including Pakistan’s request for the resumption of bilateral series against India.