Pakistan has reversed its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India, clearing the way for the high-profile contest to proceed as scheduled on Sunday. The Pakistan Cricket Board initially threatened to withdraw from the tournament after Bangladesh was removed for refusing to tour India due to political tensions. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Bangladesh's removal from the tournament, with Scotland stepping in as replacements, sparked the controversy. Pakistan's government initially directed the team to boycott their February 15 fixture against India but reversed course following diplomatic discussions. The Pakistan government stated the decision aims to "protect the spirit of cricket" and support the continuity of the global sport.

The reversal came after meetings between the ICC, Bangladesh Cricket Board, and PCB. Bangladesh's cricket board president had appealed to Pakistan to play "for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem." The decision prevents Pakistan from forfeiting crucial group stage points and maintains the tournament's integrity. India's captain Suryakumar Yadav had already confirmed his team would travel to Colombo regardless of the boycott plans.