The Pakistan vs India fixture at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is still hanging in the balance, with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the next few days.
Sources say Naqvi will brief the Prime Minister on his meeting with an ICC delegation that landed in Lahore on Sunday. The ICC officials reportedly came seeking Pakistan’s approval for the February 15 match, which is being proposed to take place in Sri Lanka.
The matter, however, is now in the Prime Minister’s hands.
According to insiders, the PCB has conveyed the ICC’s request but the final decision on whether Pakistan will play the high-profile clash will be taken at the government level.
ICC Delegation Visit After Long Discussions
The ICC’s sudden intervention comes after a long round of talks involving the ICC, PCB and Bangladesh Cricket Board, which stretched for more than five hours.
Officials familiar with the discussions said Bangladesh raised concerns over tournament arrangements, and a framework was worked out to address them. Pakistan’s board reportedly acted as a bridge between the ICC and Bangladesh during the negotiations.
ICC deputy chairman Imran Khwaja later left to seek approval for the recommendations, while Bangladesh’s cricket chief returned home to brief his government.
A follow-up meeting between the ICC and Bangladesh is expected on Monday.
Reports Of Pressure Behind The Scenes
In recent days, Indian media has claimed that the ICC has been trying through back-channel efforts to convince Pakistan to soften its position on the match, given the commercial and sporting significance of an India-Pakistan contest.
Khwaja, who represents the Singapore Cricket Association, has reportedly been involved in mediation talks to ease the growing tension.
Pakistan’s Stand Still Clear
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already repeated Pakistan’s stance, saying the country has taken a clear position on not playing India in the tournament.
“We have taken a clear stand regarding the T20 World Cup that we will not play the match against India,” he said, adding that the decision was made after careful thought.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 runs from February 7 to March 8, with both Pakistan and India among the 20 participating teams.
For now, all eyes remain on the upcoming meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and the Prime Minister, which could decide the fate of the biggest match of the tournament.
