Pakistan’s Mohammad Haris and India’s Abhishek Sharma in motion in the course of the Asia Cup Group Stage conflict on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, September 14, 2025. — Reuters
India on Tuesday stated dealing with a “quality” Pakistan facet in Colombo will probably be “a challenge,” after authorities in Islamabad instructed the nationwide group to play the scheduled ICC Males’s T20 World Cup match on February 15.
The federal authorities late Monday ended a week-long stand-off by rescinding its order for the cricket group to boycott the conflict.
“It’s great that the game is back on, we kind of never changed the preparation,” stated India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.
India will face a second Group A match towards Namibia on Thursday in New Delhi earlier than flying to Sri Lanka.
It means a fast turnaround for Sunday’s match, the largest and most profitable conflict in world cricket.
“It’s going to be a challenge going to Colombo, where Pakistan have been for the last two weeks,” added Ten Doeschate.
“We are delighted to have another chance to play against a quality side in the first phase of the tournament. “We’re totally targeted on simply bringing our greatest sport to that fixture.”
Pakistan warmed up for the clash in perfect fashion with a second win of the tournament in Colombo on Tuesday, by 32 runs against the USA.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan, who top scored with 73, said: “The match is on and we’re in a assured temper.”
The last time the teams met, at last year’s T20 Asian Cup, India beat Pakistan three times on their way to lifting the trophy in Dubai.
“This time it is going to be completely different, and we’ll give a powerful efficiency,” said Farhan. “We misplaced all three matches, together with the ultimate to India within the Asia Cup, however they weren’t one-sided.”
Pakistan’s decision to go ahead with the match was hailed on Tuesday as an outbreak of “good sense” and “good for cricket”.
A frantic weekend of negotiations saw International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chiefs fly 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.
‘Spirit of cricket’
After “multilateral discussions, in addition to the request of pleasant nations, the Authorities of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan Nationwide Cricket Crew to take the sphere on February 15”, the Islamabad government said on its official X account late Monday night.
The decision had been taken with the aim of “defending the spirit of cricket”, it added.
Former India cricketer Madan Lal told AFP on Tuesday that it was “good for cricket”. “We would like sturdy groups to play in order that the allure of the World Cup is just not misplaced,” he added.
Sri Lanka, who will host the match, which generates multi-millions of dollars in advertising, broadcast rights, sponsorship and tourism, also praised the decision.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in a social media post, thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for “guaranteeing the sport all of us love goes on”.
Veteran Indian journalist Pradeep Magazine told AFP, “good sense has prevailed on all sides”. Financial considerations would have been taken into account, he added.
“Everybody realised that dropping the income from an India-Pakistan match would have been a loss-loss state of affairs for all ICC member nations.”
Acrimonious build-up
The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up. Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.
As a protest, Islamabad ordered the national team not to face co-hosts India in the Group A fixture.
Pakistan, who edged out the Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, would have conceded two points if they had forfeited the match.
Pakistan will play all their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka as part of an ICC deal that ensures the two nations only meet on neutral territory.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Friday, before their opening win against the USA, that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash, whether the game was on or not.
“We’ve not stated no to taking part in them,” Suryakumar said. “Our flights are booked, and we’re going to Colombo.”
