BCCI reacts to Pakistan’s refusal to boycott the match with India at the 2026 World Cup

File photo: BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla (IANS)

Hyderabad: The impasse over the 2026 T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan was resolved on Monday when the latter reversed its decision to boycott the match against their arch-rivals.

The India-Pakistan match will take place on February 15 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Pakistan government has assigned the national cricket team to take part in the match against India as it pledges to show solidarity with Bangladesh, which was kicked out of the T20 Cricket World Cup for refusing to travel to India.

The BCCI reacted to the whole development as vice-president Rajeev Shukla said it was a “loving decision”.

“I am happy to see the outcome of the discussions initiated by the ICC representative under the guidance of the ICC Chairman and representatives who went to Lahore to speak with the Pakistan Cricket Board as well as the Bangladesh Cricket Board. This is a good decision, an amicable solution that has been found to give priority to the importance of cricket in the game. This is what was done. cricket is coming back to the fore,” said Rajeev Shukla while talking to the media.

A meeting was held in Lahore between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) where it was decided that Bangladesh would not face any sanctions for boycotting the tournament. Bangladesh will also host ICC competitions between the 2027 World Cup and the 2031 World Cup.

“This is a great achievement for the ICC. Therefore, I would like to thank the ICC for taking this initiative and bringing Pakistan to the negotiating table, ultimately deciding that Pakistan will play the match in Colombo. This is good news for all of us and the match scheduled for February 15th in Colombo will go ahead. Pakistan will also play. So now this World Cup will also be a great success story,” he added.