"How to follow: We'll have all the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 9:30 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream. One of the world's most watched sporting events will take to the screens of viewers all around the globe on Sunday, but only after last-minute talks reversed Pakistan's decision to boycott their T20 World Cup match against neighbours and rivals, India."
"Following Bangladesh's expulsion from the tournament for refusing to play their games in India, the Pakistan government stepped in to stop the group stage match from going ahead in a show of solidarity with the Bangladeshi team. After talks with the game's governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC) Bangladesh and tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka, Pakistan reversed their decision."
"Sunday's group-stage game is a repeat of the 2025 Asian Cup final, which India won by five wickets. The game, much like the team's earlier meeting in the tournament, was overshadowed by the lack of handshakes between the sides and India's refusal to accept the trophy, which was to be presented to them by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was also chair of Pakistan's cricket board and the country's interior minister."
India face Pakistan at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15 at 7pm local time in the ICC 2026 T20 World Cup. Pakistan initially announced a boycott after Bangladesh was expelled for refusing to play matches in India, and the Pakistan government intervened in solidarity. After talks with the International Cricket Council, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Pakistan reversed its boycott and agreed to play. The fixture revives an intense rivalry that included the 2025 Asian Cup final, which India won amid a lack of handshakes and India's refusal to accept the trophy. India and Pakistan had agreed in 2024 to play bilateral matches at neutral venues.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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