Pakistan-India blockbuster match back on after government intervention

PAKISTAN’S decision to U-turn and go ahead with their blockbuster Group A match against India at the T20 World Cup on February 15 was hailed Tuesday as an outbreak of “good sense” and “good for cricket”.

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The Pakistan government in Islamabad late on Monday night ended a week-long standoff by rescinding its order for the cricket team to boycott the match in Colombo.

The biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket was revived after a frantic weekend of negotiations.

It culminated in International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chiefs flying to Lahore on Sunday for talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The governments of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka both wrote to the Islamabad government on Monday urging it to change its stance and allow the game to go ahead, and just before midnight they got their wish.

After “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”, the Islamabad government said on its official X account late Monday night.

The decision had been taken with the aim of “protecting the spirit of cricket”, it added.