By Shakir Husain
NEW DELHI, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- The high-profile T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan will proceed in Colombo this Sunday after talks among top cricket officials in Pakistan's Lahore city and a phone conversation between the leaders of Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
"Thank you Prime Minister (Shehbaz Sharif) for ensuring the game we all love goes on. Delighted that the eagerly awaited India and Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will proceed as planned," Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in a post on X on Monday night.
Dissanayake spoke to Shehbaz and requested him to let the Pakistani team play against India.
The Pakistan prime minister appreciated the Sri Lankan president's sentiments and noted that Colombo also stood with Islamabad during difficult times, according to Pakistani media reports.
The Pakistan government about a week ago ordered the national team to boycott the India game after the International Cricket Council (ICC) refused to accede to Bangladesh's demand that all its matches be shifted to Sri Lanka due to security threats to players and fans in India.
"Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on Feb 15 against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem," Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam said in a statement earlier on Monday.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had strongly supported Bangladesh's position and expressed displeasure over what it described as the ICC’s “double standards.”
The ICC brought in Scotland to participate in the tournament being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka between Feb 7 and March 8 as Bangladesh refused to travel to India.
"We are deeply moved by Pakistan's efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish," the Bangladesh cricket chief said.
ICC deputy chairman Imran Khwaja, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Aminul Islam held meetings in Lahore to resolve the row.
Shehbaz was later briefed by Naqvi regarding the outcomes of high-level deliberations.
The world cricketing body said its dialogue with the PCB "took place as part of a broader engagement with both parties recognising the need for constructive dealings" and "it was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events."
Bangladesh will not face penalties for their absence from the tournament and will have the opportunity to host an ICC event ahead of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2031, the ICC said in a statement.
"As co-host of the tournament, Sri Lanka thanks the @ICC and all concerned for their efforts. Sri Lanka hasn't forgotten the solidarity shown by both India and Pakistan during the 1996 World Cup, when they played in Colombo at a time when others refrained due to security concerns," Dissanayake said.
A Pakistan-India cricket fixture guarantees huge television audiences as well as holds high stakes for sponsors, advertisers and organisers.
The T20 tournament risked losing its attraction and could have a serious financial fallout if Pakistan had insisted on not playing India.
Massive hotel cancellations by cricket fans were reported in Colombo after the Pakistani boycott announcement.
-- BERNAMA
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