President Dissanayake Welcomes Pakistan’s Decision to Play India in T20 World Cup

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has welcomed Pakistan’s decision to take part in the scheduled T20 World Cup match against India, expressing his appreciation in a post on his official X account.

Sri Lanka, a co-host of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, views the confirmation of the India–Pakistan fixture as a positive development for the tournament. The President thanked the International Cricket Council (ICC) and all stakeholders who contributed to ensuring that the match proceeds as planned.

The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to be played on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Pakistan government has formally directed its national team to participate in the fixture, stating that the decision was taken to protect the spirit of cricket and to ensure the continuity of the global game.

The decision followed a telephone conversation between President Dissanayake and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which the Sri Lankan leader requested Pakistan to reconsider its earlier stance. President Dissanayake also recalled Pakistan’s support for Sri Lankan cricket during challenging periods and highlighted the long-standing friendship between the two countries.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the request and expressed appreciation for Sri Lanka’s continued support, reaffirming the strong bilateral ties between the two nations.