COLOMBO — The high-stakes game of “cricket diplomacy” has concluded with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially withdrawing its threat to boycott the T20 World Cup clash against India. The announcement on Monday, February 9, 2026, paved the way for the tournament’s most anticipated fixture to proceed as scheduled this Sunday in Colombo.
Amidst the off-field drama, Pakistan’s opening batter Sahibzada Farhan has emerged as the man of the hour, powering his team to a clinical victory over the USA on Tuesday and immediately turning the focus toward arch-rivals India.
1. Farhan’s Post-Match Declaration
Fresh off a blistering 73-run knock (41 balls), Farhan addressed the media, signaling that Pakistan would not be playing cautiously against the defending champions.
- The Strategy: “We’ll go in with the same mindset as we did in our previous matches against India… We’ll try to stay positive and play attacking cricket,” Farhan stated.
- Personal Goals: Farhan revealed he had predicted his Player of the Match performance to batting coach Hanif Malik during practice and has set a goal to win three MOTM awards during this World Cup.
- Natural Game: Emphasizing his partnership with Saim Ayub, Farhan noted their captain’s mandate is to maximize the first six overs through aggressive stroke-play.
2. Inside the Boycott U-Turn
The Pakistan government’s decision to play followed weeks of tension after Bangladesh was excluded from the tournament for refusing to travel to India.
- Global Pressure: The Pakistan government cited requests from “friendly countries” including Sri Lanka, the UAE, and Bangladesh itself, who urged Pakistan not to jeopardize the “global cricket ecosystem.”
- No Penalty for Bangladesh: In a separate development, the ICC confirmed it would not penalize the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for its non-participation and even awarded the country a future ICC hosting slot before 2031 as a gesture of goodwill.
3. Match Report: Pakistan vs. USA
Pakistan currently sits at the top of Group A after two consecutive wins.
| Metric | Pakistan | USA |
| Total Score | 190/9 (20 Overs) | 158/8 (20 Overs) |
| Top Scorer | Sahibzada Farhan (73) | Shubham Ranjane (51) |
| Best Bowler | Usman Tariq (3/27) | S. van Schalkwyk (4/25) |
| Result | Pakistan won by 32 runs | — |
4. “Money Talks”: The Critics Weigh In
The U-turn drew sharp criticism from former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, who suggested that financial interests—not diplomacy—drove Pakistan back to the table.
- Harbhajan’s Take: “I think they realized really late that the tournament can go on even without them, but not without India… when it comes to money, they will come pleading to play.”
- Sourav Ganguly’s View: The former BCCI President took a milder tone, stating, “Sports and politics are different. It is good that they are playing.”