Mohsin Naqvi urged Bangladesh to make 'formal appeal' to Pakistan over India match boycott

Mohsin Naqvi Got Bangladesh To Make 'Formal Appeal', Inside Details Of T20 World Cup U-Turn Out

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had approached Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam and asked him to make a formal appeal urging Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup match against India, according to a PTI report.

“Bulbul was called by Naqvi to request that he issues a formal appeal to Pakistan to play the game (against India) and that was a respectable way of wriggling out of the mess,” a source familiar with the development said.

Aminul Islam confirmed on Monday that he had urged Pakistan to reconsider its decision to boycott the high-profile India clash scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. He said the appeal followed discussions with Naqvi during his visit to Lahore, as efforts intensified to resolve the standoff surrounding the marquee T20 World Cup fixture.

Later on Monday night, Pakistan confirmed it would take the field against India in the Group A match of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after receiving clearance from the Pakistani government.

Pakistan had earlier opted to boycott the high-profile fixture in solidarity with Bangladesh, which was replaced by Scotland after declining to travel to India due to security concerns.

"We are deeply moved by Pakistan's efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish," Islam said in a statement.

After concluding his visit to Pakistan, Islam formally appealed to Islamabad to reverse its stance.

"Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem."

Islam arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for multiple discussions, including a virtual meeting involving the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the PCB, as stakeholders worked to resolve the impasse.

ICC welcomes Pakistan’s decision

Following Pakistan’s announcement, the ICC issued a statement confirming that discussions with the PCB had taken place earlier this month as part of wider consultations aimed at safeguarding the tournament.

“The dialogue between ICC and PCB took place as part of a broader engagement with both parties recognising the need for constructive dealings and being united, committed and purposeful in their aspirations to serve the best interests of the game with integrity, neutrality and cooperation,” the ICC said in an official statement.

The India–Pakistan match, one of the marquee fixtures of the tournament, is set to be played as scheduled at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15.