ISLAMABAD: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has thanked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for granting permission for the Pakistan-India match in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The Sri Lankan President confirmed through his social media statement that he had spoken with the Prime Minister. He stated that Shehbaz Sharif “ensured the Pakistan-India match takes place.” He showed appreciation for the Prime Minister, who helped keep the game alive which millions of people cherish.
Thank you Prime Minister @CMShehbaz 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.
As co-host of the tournament, Sri Lanka thanks the @ICC and all…
— Anura Kumara Dissanayake (@anuradisanayake) February 9, 2026
The Sri Lankan President confirmed that the scheduled Pakistan-India match in Colombo will proceed as planned.
The Prime Minister and President Wickremesinghe had a phone call, which ended with the Sri Lankan President requesting Pakistan to arrange its match against India.
Prime Minister Sharif acknowledged the friendly sentiment which reminded him that Sri Lanka supported Pakistan during its challenging times by enabling cricket activities to proceed in his country. The Prime Minister informed the Sri Lankan President that the final match decision would emerge from their consultation process.
Pakistan allows national team to play India in T20 World Cup
Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi presented the results of high-level talks which involved Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) representatives, to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to an official statement.
The statement said the government also reviewed formal requests sent by the Bangladesh Cricket Board to the PCB as well as messages received from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and other ICC member countries. The countries requested Pakistan to help resolve the recent challenges that affected the tournament.
The government accepted BCB President Aminul Islam’s statement and the Bangladesh government expressed its gratitude. Pakistan confirmed its status as a brotherhood country that will support Bangladesh throughout its difficulties.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conducted a telephone conversation with the President of Sri Lanka on the same day, according to the statement. The two leaders engaged in friendly conversation while they reflected on the historical friendship that Pakistan and Sri Lanka share through mutual support during challenging times. The President of Sri Lanka requested Pakistan to solve the issue through peaceful means.
The Pakistan government approved the national cricket team’s participation in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match which will take place on 15 February 2026, at the request of friendly nations.
The government said the decision was made to promote cricket and develop the sport. The Prime Minister’s Office sent its best wishes to the national team through official channels.
