Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has publicly thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after Pakistan confirmed it would play India in their high-voltage ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo on February 15. The message came hours after Pakistan made a dramatic U-turn on its proposed boycott, removing a cloud of uncertainty that had briefly threatened the tournament’s marquee fixture.

The India vs Pakistan encounter, widely regarded as the biggest commercial and sporting draw of any ICC event, had been thrown into doubt after Pakistan signalled it might refuse to take the field. However, following prolonged discussions involving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and the International Cricket Council (ICC), the deadlock was broken.

Pakistan reversed its stance, paving the way for the blockbuster match to go ahead as scheduled at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Taking to X soon after the decision, President Dissanayake expressed both relief and gratitude, acknowledging the behind-the-scenes efforts that ensured the tournament’s continuity.

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“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,” he wrote. He also thanked the ICC and participating boards, while recalling Sri Lanka’s own history of stepping up during difficult times. Dissanayake referenced the 1996 World Cup, when India and Pakistan played in Colombo despite security concerns that led other teams to opt out, underlining the spirit of solidarity that cricket has occasionally embodied.

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

Pakistan’s change of position followed a series of high-level meetings at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore that reportedly lasted more than five hours. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi later briefed Prime Minister Sharif on the discussions and the broader implications for Pakistan cricket. Soon after, the Government of Pakistan confirmed through its official channels that the national team would honour its fixture against India.

Sharif indicated that the decision was influenced by appeals from “friendly countries,” including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the UAE, as well as constructive engagement with ICC officials. In the lead-up to the reversal, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul had urged Pakistan to keep the marquee clash intact, while Sri Lanka Cricket is understood to have written formally to the PCB, highlighting the wider impact a boycott would have on the tournament and the host nation.

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Pakistan’s initial threat to boycott the India match was framed as a gesture of solidarity with Bangladesh, which was removed from the tournament after citing security concerns about travel. However, with the commercial, sporting and diplomatic stakes surrounding an India-Pakistan World Cup game, pressure quickly mounted from multiple stakeholders.

The eventual U-turn ensures that the tournament’s biggest rivalry will be settled where it belongs – on the field. For fans, broadcasters and hosts alike, the February 15 showdown in Colombo is back on track, preserving the competitive and emotional heartbeat of the T20 World Cup 2026.