The suspense surrounding the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash has finally ended with the Pakistan government taking a significant U-turn. After days of threatening a boycott, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government officially announced on Monday that Pakistan will face India on February 15, following successful tripartite talks involving the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The breakthrough came after intense diplomatic requests from friendly nations, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the UAE. While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially set tough conditions, the constructive dialogue facilitated by the ICC ensured that the ice finally melted. Interestingly, the BCB emerged as a major beneficiary in this scenario. Despite withdrawing from the tournament on Indian soil due to security concerns following the Mustafizur Rahman incident, the ICC confirmed that Bangladesh will face no sanctions. Instead, the ICC guaranteed continued support for cricket in Bangladesh and even promised hosting rights for an ICC event between 2028 and 2031.

In an official statement, the ICC noted that both parties have agreed to work with integrity and cooperation for the global interest of cricket. The Pakistani government confirmed that the “conscious decision” to play was reached after reviewing the outcomes of multilateral discussions and honoring the requests of ally nations. The cricketing world now gears up for the most anticipated rivalry in sports this February 15.