The cricket world breathes a sigh of relief as the PCB rescinds its boycott of the India match in the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. ICC’s deft handling of tensions has salvaged a fixture that guarantees fireworks, much to the delight of billions of fans.
In Kolkata, Sourav Ganguly didn’t mince words. ‘Great call by Pakistan to take on India. Sports should never mix with politics,’ he told journalists. Turning to the on-field dynamics, Ganguly noted, ‘Indo-Pak games are pure spectacle. India is a powerhouse these days—Pakistan struggled lately, so they must play out of their skins to compete.’
BCCI’s Rajeev Shukla celebrated the resolution: ‘ICC deserves all praise for this. Resolving the deadlock and getting Pakistan on board is monumental. The 2026 event is now set for glory.’
Recapping events: Bangladesh cited safety issues in India to exit, replaced by Scotland. Pakistan followed suit in protest. A pivotal Sunday meeting in Lahore between ICC reps, PCB’s Mohsin Naqvi, and BCB’s Aminul Islam eased tensions—no penalties for Bangladesh, plus hosting assurances pre-2031. Pakistan’s administration promptly reversed course.
Ganguly’s assessment paints India as favorites, but history shows these clashes defy form books. The confirmation injects massive hype into the tournament calendar.