Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Sunday Feb 22, 2026
Wednesday, 11 February 2026 00:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake
The scheduled India–Pakistan match at the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will proceed as planned following diplomatic and institutional engagement by the Sri Lankan Government.
A series of Government interventions took place over the past few days and cleared the way for the high-profile fixture to take place. Discussions involved multiple parties, including the International Cricket Council and national cricket authorities.
President Dissanayake held a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, after which official communication was received from the Pakistani Government, enabling the matter to be resolved.
President Dissanayake later posted on X, stating:
“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 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.”
Sri Lanka is co-hosting the tournament, with Colombo hosting a number of marquee fixtures, including the India–Pakistan clash, one of the most closely watched encounters in international cricket.
The much awaited match is this Sunday (15).
