The International Cricket Council (ICC) late on Monday night (February 9, 2026) confirmed that Pakistan will honour its commitment of playing all the matches, including the marquee clash against India in Colombo on February 15, of the ongoing Men’s T20 World Cup.

“The dialogue between ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board (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,” read an ICC statement, issued on Monday night (February 9, 2026).

“In that prevailing spirit, it was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success.”

The statement was an affirmation of PCB’s commitment to play all the games in the tournament, as stated in the Members’ Participation Agreement (MPA) that is signed between the ICC and each of the 12 ICC full members.

Ever since the Government of Pakistan had last week directed the Pakistan team to not take the field against India in a bid to support Bangladesh, the global cricket ecosystem was in a fix over the fate of the marquee clash that is the epicentre of cricket’s finances.

Minutes earlier, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president had requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its chief, Mohsin Naqvi, also an influential Minister in Pakistan, to play against India.

An official statement by the Government of Pakistan stated that the PCB had received requests from multiple cricket boards. “The Government of Pakistan has reviewed the formal requests extended to the PCB by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, as well as the supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other member nations. These correspondences sought Pakistan’s leadership in securing a viable solution to recent challenges,” it said, after stating that Naqvi briefed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about the outcomes of the meetings with ICC.

“This evening, the Prime Minister held a telephone call with H.E. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka. During their warm and friendly conversation, they recalled that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had always stood shoulder to shoulder, especially during challenging times. The Sri Lankan President requested the Prime Minister to accord serious consideration to amicably resolving the current impasse.

In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”

Over the last couple of days, ICC directors Imran Khwaja (Singapore) and Mubashir Usmani (UAE) held multiple rounds of meetings in Lahore with Naqvi, PCB officials and Islam, who had travelled from Dhaka.

A separate ICC statement confirmed that following the meetings, the ICC will not financially penalise Bangladesh for withdrawing from the T20 World Cup and Bangladesh will host an additional ICC event prior to the Men’s World Cup 2041, “subject to the usual ICC hosting processes, timelines and operational requirements”.

Sanjog Gupta, the ICC chief executive, said: “Bangladesh’s absence from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is regrettable, but it does not alter the ICC’s enduring commitment to Bangladesh as a core cricketing nation. Our focus continues to be on working closely with key stakeholders, including BCB to ensure the sport grows sustainably in the country and that future opportunities for its players and fans are strengthened.

Bangladesh remains a priority cricket ecosystem deserving of long-term investment in its development, competitiveness and global integration, and is not defined by short-term disruptions.”

The friction between Bangladesh and the ICC began on January 3 with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) forcing Kolkata Knight Riders to withdraw Mustafizur Rahman — the only Bangladeshi cricketer signed for the 2026 Indian Premier League – to withdraw from the franchise-based league promoted by the BCCI.

A day later, the BCB on its government’s directive, expressed to the ICC its inability to travel to India, citing security concerns. The fallout lasted over a fortnight before the ICC Board passed a resolution to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for the T20 World Cup.

Since Pakistan was the only ICC Board member to have openly supported Bangladesh, the Pakistan government last week had announced the decision to forfeit the game against India. With more than a third of the ICC World Cup revenue dependent on the India versus Pakistan clash, the ICC stepped in to negotiate with the PCB.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Pakistan’s PM Sharif for withdrawing from boycott calls.

Taking it to X, Mr. Dissanayake wrote, “Delighted that the eagerly awaited India and Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will proceed as planned. As co-host of the tournament, Sri Lanka thanks the ICC and all concerned for their efforts. Sri Lanka hasn’t forgotten the solidarity shown by both India and Pakistan during the 1996 World Cup, when they played in Colombo at a time when others refrained due to security concerns.”

Published – February 10, 2026 12:34 am IST

A general view shows empty seats at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on September 17, 2025, ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 Twenty20 international cricket match between United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Just days after a controversy was triggered due to the absence of India’s flat from Karachi’s National Stadium ahead of the start of the ICC Champions Trophy, amends seem to have been made. In the latest visuals that have been shared on social media from the venue, India’s flag has been placed alongside other participating nations for the Champions Trophy. Many theories were contemplated when the National Stadium didn’t feature India’s flag a few days before the start of the event. But, all seems to be well now.

Several users on social media shared the visuals of the flags of all 8 nations which are participating in the Champions Trophy.

India’s flag raised at the National Stadium in Karachi. What a moment

We have big hearts, we don’t do cheap acts. All 7 Indian journalists granted Pakistan visas too #ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/zWfIMCaVex

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 18, 2025

As social media went berserk, with fans criticising Pakistan’s refusal to raise the Indian flag at its stadiums, the PCB brushed aside the controversy, saying the flags of the countries who are playing in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have only been raised at the stadiums.

“As you know, India is not coming to Pakistan to play its matches during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025; the National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore have hoisted flags of countries that are going to play at the said venues,” said a PCB source was quoted as saying by IANS.

When asked why the Indian, Bangladesh, and other participating countries’ flags were not there at the Karachi and Lahore stadiums, the source said, “The Indian team is going to play its matches in Dubai. Secondly, the Bangladesh team has not yet arrived in Pakistan and will be playing its first match against India in Dubai. Therefore, their flags have not been hoisted and the other nations, who have arrived here and will be playing in Pakistan… their flags are there at the stadium.”

No Indian flag in #Karachi:

only the Indian team faced security issues in #Pakistan & refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, the PCB removed the #India flag from the Karachi stadium while keeping the flags of the other guest playing nations.#ChampionsTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/QaZMqglAu1

— shahinur (@shahinu_r) February 17, 2025

The BCCI vice-chairman also reacted to the controversy, saying the Pakistan board needs to first confirm if Indian flag was initially there or not. If it wasn’t, it should’ve been put.

“First, it should be confirmed that whether the Indian flag was there or not. If it wasn’t there, then it should have been put. All the participant nations’ flags should have been there,” Rajeev Shukla told Livemint on the sidelines of the Restaurant Cricket League in Delhi on Tuesday.

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is just around the corner, with every team hoping to hit the ground running when the eight-team tournament begins from February 19. One such team that would be the cynosure of everyone’s eyes will be host Pakistan, captained by Mohammad Rizwan. They enter the competition as defending champions, after winning the last edition held in 2017 in England. But do they shape up as one of the strong contenders to win the title? Here’s a SWOT analysis from IANS of the Pakistan team that is set to begin their campaign with the tournament opener against New Zealand.

Strength: Pakistan possess players who can be game-changers on a particular day. Fakhar Zaman, back in the ODI team after the 2023 World Cup, can change the game around in a jiffy. If Babar Azam discovers his good form, then Pakistan will surely feel good about posting a huge total.

Skipper Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha are in great touch which augurs well for Pakistan. Their pace-heavy attack comprising Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf (if fit for the tournament) and Mohammad Hasnain adds the reliability and winning factor to the team.

Weakness: With Saim Ayub out due to an ankle fracture and Abdullah Shafique omitted due to poor form, Pakistan have a new-look opening combination with Fakhar and Babar, which hasn’t fired so far. With the first ten overs being crucial to post a big total, the Fakhar-Babar opening combination is a weak link.

Moreover, Pakistan left everyone baffled by picking one specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed, who is injury-prone. With neither Sufiyan Muqeem nor Shadab Khan picked, it means Pakistan’s squad balance is a bit off. The lower order of Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah is another weak link as they haven’t done anything substantial at the international level.

Opportunity: Pakistan last hosted a multi-nation cricket tournament when the 1996 World Cup was on, including the final held in Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. Now 29 years later, Pakistan are back to being the host for an ICC event via the return of the Champions Trophy.

Though Pakistan will host 11 out of 15 matches in its three renovated venues in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi, it is still a considerable achievement for a country who hasn’t hosted big-ticket sporting events due to violent acts, especially the March 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan Test team.

If Pakistan step up in both on and off-field activities during the Champions Trophy, it can pave the way for more sporting events to come its way in a country which has been battling economic and political instability.

Threat: As the hosts’ of the Champions Trophy, Pakistan’s performances will be closely watched by people at home and all over the world. While teams can thrive under this pressure, it can also cause them to crumble under it and make an early exit from the competition. With Pakistan carrying that unpredictable tag, it means their performances can go either way and that’s a big threat for them.

The much-awaited Champions Trophy 2025 starts on Wednesday with a match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi. While India will play its matches in Dubai (knockouts included if it qualifies), most matches will be played in Pakistan. For the country, this is the first major ICC event that it will host after the 1996 World Cup and Pakistan Cricket Board is desperate to provide a unique experience to all. The build-up to the Champions Trophy 2025 saw reports claiming that the stadium work would be delayed. However, much of that fear has subsided.

Pakistan looks set to host the Champions Trophy. In the midst of this, according to a report in Samaa TV, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has declined an offer to be seated in a $400, 000 VIP box (INR 3.47 crore) at the Dubai stadium where the India vs Pakistan will be played on February 23. Instead, the report claims that he has decided to sit in the general enclosure and told authorities to sell the tickets of the VIP box to boost revenue. 

Recently, in an interview to The Indian Express, Mohsin Naqvi told how they have invested much to upgrade the stadium in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. 

“Our stadiums last underwent significant renovations for the 1996 World Cup. Since then, the global cricketing landscape has evolved tremendously. We recognised that this event was an opportunity to showcase Pakistan’s ability to host top-tier international cricket, ensuring that our facilities meet the highest global standards for players, officials, and fans alike. The dedication and expertise of our workforce have been instrumental in transforming Gaddafi Stadium and National Stadium Karachi into world-class venues,” he said.

“While financial details remain confidential, it is important to note that the PCB has made a significant investment in upgrading our cricket infrastructure. This has been fully funded by the PCB without any external grants and it will strengthen Pakistan’s cricketing ecosystem.”

Naqvi added that plans are in place to provide top-notch security to the teams in Pakistan. 

“As with any ICC event, the host nation must submit a comprehensive security plan for review by ICC security experts and representatives from participating countries. Our security plan was presented to the ICC Board in October 2024 and received unanimous approval. This plan ensures that all necessary protocols are in place to provide a safe and seamless experience for teams, officials, and spectators alike,” he said.

A social media controversy was triggered after a video of Karachi’s National Stadium surfaced, showing flags of participating nations playing in the upcoming ICC Champion’s Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan from February 19. The video shows that the Indian flag was purportedly not hoisted at the stadium, stirring up controversy and heated debate, criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for venting out its anger against India for refusing to play Champions Trophy matches in the country. While social media is buzzing with fans criticising Pakistan’s refusal to raise the Indian flag at its stadiums, the PCB has downplayed the controversy, saying the flags of the countries who are playing in Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have only been raised at the stadiums.

“As you know, India is not coming to Pakistan to play its matches during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025; the National Stadium in Karachi, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore have hoisted flags of countries that are going to play at the said venues,” said a PCB source to IANS.

When asked why the Indian, Bangladesh and other participating countries’ flags were not there at the Karachi and Lahore stadiums, the source said, “The Indian team is going to play its matches in Dubai. Secondly, the Bangladesh team has not yet arrived in Pakistan and will be playing its first match against India in Dubai. Therefore, their flags have not been hoisted and the other nations, who have arrived here and will be playing in Pakistan… their flags are there at the stadium.”

No Indian flag in Karachi: As only the Indian team faced security issues in Pakistan and refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, the PCB removed the Indian flag from the Karachi stadium while keeping the flags of the other guest playing nations. pic.twitter.com/rjM9LcWQXs

— Arsalan (@Arslan1245) February 16, 2025

The source added that PCB does not need to give out an official statement on the matter as it is related to a social media video with an ill-intended agenda.

“I don’t think PCB needs to even give an official statement on this. It’s clear that the controversy is made without facts and aims to damage host Pakistan’s image with fake news,” the source said.

“Different stadiums in Pakistan are going to host different teams during the Champions Trophy matches. And they’re hoisting their flags to welcome them”, it added.

It is pertinent to note that the BCCI refused to play in Pakistan due to security concerns and political tensions between the two countries, forcing the ICC to implement a hybrid model, in which India will be playing all of its Champions Trophy matches in Dubai.

The source also stated that cities in Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, where the Champions Trophy matches will be taking place, have got banners up on the main streets and highways, showing captains of all participating nations, including India, insisting that the PCB does not have any intention to let its political rivalry impact a major ICC event in the country.

Champion Trophy is returning after a hiatus of eight years. Pakistan are the defending champion and the country is looking ahead to the event’s success, as they are hosting the ICC event for the first time since they co-hosted the 1996 World Cup.

As the cricketing world awaits the start of the ICC Champions Trophy, a modest opening ceremony for the global event has already been completed. The low-key opening ceremony was held in Lahore on Sunday where the members of Pakistan’s 2017 ICC Champions Trophy-winning team were present. The likes of Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Azhar Ali, Junaid Khan, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hassan Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, and Haris Sohail attended the curtain-raiser event in Lahore. Among international attendees, the likes of New Zealand bowler Tim Southee, ambassador of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and retired South African all-rounder JP Duminy were present.

The opening ceremony started off with performances from top Pakistani music artists and fireworks before the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) addressed the attendees with a speech.

“I assure every cricket fan and supporter that Pakistan is ready for the Champions Trophy. As we speak four teams have already arrived in Karachi while England and Australia will land in the next 48 hours.

“Hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has been a long effort requiring tireless dedication and sacrifices. To ensure a world-class experience we started the upgradation of Gaddafi and National Stadium. Thanks to the efforts of the workers, both venues have been transformed into state-of-the-art facilities in record time.”

Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led Pakistan to Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, where the team defeated India in the final, is hopeful of seeing the team repeating the feat on home soil this time.

“I hope the team can defend the title on home soil,” Ahmed said during a panel discussion with Southee and Duminy.

However, it was demoralizing to see none of the captains or representatives of the eight participating nations of the Champions Trophy being present at the venue for the curtain-raiser event. The customary captains’ photoshoot also didn’t happen. There were talks of the event taking place earlier but India captain Rohit Sharma‘s refusal to travel to Pakistan saw the idea being discarded later on.

Another opening ceremony for the Champions Trophy has been scheduled for 19 February, when the first match of the tournament will take place between hosts Pakistan and New Zealand at the National Bank Cricket Stadium in Karachi.

No Indian flag at Champions Trophy venue in Pakistan© X (Twitter)

The Pakistan Cricket Board, on Tuesday, inaugurated the renovated National Stadium, one of the three venues in the country that will host the Champions Trophy, taking the opportunity to reward the 700 workers who toiled day and night to complete the project. In a video that has gone viral on social media, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi decided to throw a feast for the workers. In the video, the workers could be seen enjoying food provided by the Pakistan board. Naqvi himself also decided to dine with the workers to celebrate the moment. 

Update: PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi arranged dinner for 700+ workers at National Stadium Karachi. He also hosted 2000+ workers at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore earlier. What a chairman pic.twitter.com/YSMKaCg41a

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) February 11, 2025

The stadium will host the inaugural Champions Trophy match between New Zealand and Pakistan on February 19.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi acknowledged the efforts of the workers, including labourers, technicians, engineers and loaders, saying without their persistence it would not have been possible to complete the upgradation on time.

The stadium will also host the South Africa versus Pakistan tri-series match on Wednesday and the final on February 14.

The stadium, which was under renovation for the last four months, has a brand new state-of-the-art building at the far end of the historical venue. Besides, new LED lights, two screens and better facilities for spectators have also been put in place.

The new building houses dressing rooms, dedicated areas for broadcasters and match officials and hospitality boxes.

The stadium, however, retains its old look and the placement of the bigger screen on the ground will block the view of the people sitting in the enclosure.

The project manager, Mohsin Chohan conceded that the new screen will have to be moved to another spot after the tournament.

The PCB had initially budgeted Pakistan Rupees four billion on the renovation of the National Stadium but they appear to have overrun the cost with some work still remaining to be done after the Champions Trophy.

With PTI Inputs