MUMBAI: Pakistan’s decision to turn around and continue its blockbuster play in the Group A match against India in the T20 World Cup on February 15 was hailed on Tuesday as showing “common sense” and “good for cricket”.
The Pakistani government in Islamabad late Monday ended a week-long standoff by reversing an order for the cricket team to boycott a match in Colombo.
World cricket’s biggest and most lucrative clash has resumed after frantic negotiations over the weekend.
The development culminated with the heads of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) flying to Lahore on Sunday for talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The governments of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka wrote to the Islamabad government on Monday urging it to change its position and allow the game to continue, and just before midnight they got their wish.
After “multilateral discussions and at the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take to the field on 15th February,” the Islamabad government said on its official X account late on Monday.
The decision was taken to “protect the spirit of cricket”, it added.
Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal told AFP on Tuesday: “Pakistan has really shaken up the ICC by repeatedly saying they won’t play.
“In the end, the ICC had to send officials to Pakistan to look into the matter,” and that was “good for cricket.”
“We want strong teams to play so that the charm of the World Cup is not lost,” he added.
“LOSS SITUATION”
Sri Lanka, which will host the match, which generated multimillion-dollar revenue from advertising, broadcast rights, sponsorship and tourism, also welcomed the decision.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for “ensuring the continuation of the game we all love.”
“Happy that the much-awaited India-Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will go ahead as planned,” Dissanayake wrote in a social media post.
Veteran Indian journalist Pradeep Magazine told AFP that “common sense has prevailed on all sides.”
Financial considerations would be taken into account, he added.
“India-Pakistan is not just about cricket revenues – it also means broader commercial revenues,” he said.
“Everyone understood that losing revenue from the India-Pakistan match would be a lose-lose situation for all ICC member countries.”
Sworn political rivals Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for over a decade and only meet in global or regional tournaments and only on neutral ground.
The 20-team tournament was marred by the violent political situation.
Bangladesh, which refused to play in India due to security concerns, was replaced by Scotland.
As a mark of protest, the Pakistani government ordered the team not to face hosts India in the Group A match.
Pakistan, who swept the Netherlands in their opening match of the tournament on Saturday, would have conceded two points if they had lost the match, which could have jeopardized their chances of progressing in the tournament.
They play the USA in the second group match in Colombo later on Tuesday.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Friday that his team will travel to Colombo for the match, whether the game takes place or not.
“We didn’t say no to their game,” Suryakumar said. “Our tickets are booked and we are going to Colombo.”