India on Tuesday said facing a “quality” Pakistan team in Colombo would be “a challenge”, after authorities in Islamabad asked the national team to play the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match scheduled for February 15.
The federal government on Monday ended a week-long standoff by rescinding the order given to the cricket team to boycott the clash.
“It’s great that the match is back, we kind of never changed the preparation,” India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said.
India will face a second Group A match against Namibia on Thursday in New Delhi before flying to Sri Lanka.
It means a quick turnaround for Sunday’s match, the biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket.
“It’s going to be a challenge to go to Colombo, where Pakistan has been for two weeks,” added Ten Doeschate.
“We are delighted to have another chance to play against a quality team in the first phase of the tournament. “We are fully focused on playing our best for this match.”
Pakistan prepared well for the clash with a second victory of the tournament in Colombo on Tuesday, by 32 runs against the United States.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan, top scorer with 73, said: “The match is on and we are confident.”
The last time the teams met, in last year’s T20 Asia Cup, India beat Pakistan three times before lifting the trophy in Dubai.
“This time it will be different and we will put in a good performance,” Farhan said. “We lost all three matches, including the Asia Cup final against India, but it was not one-sided.”
Pakistan’s decision to go ahead with the match was hailed on Tuesday as a burst of “common sense” and “good for cricket”.
A hectic weekend of negotiations saw the heads of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) travel to Lahore on Sunday for talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The governments of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka both wrote to the government in Islamabad on Monday, urging it to change its position and allow the match to go ahead.
“Spirit of Cricket”
After “multilateral discussions, as well as upon the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan national cricket team to take the field on February 15,” the Islamabad government said on its official X account on Monday evening.
The decision was taken with the aim of “protecting the spirit of cricket”, the statement added.
Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal said AFP Tuesday that it was “good for cricket”. “We want strong teams to play so that the charm of the World Cup is not lost,” he added.
Sri Lanka, which will host the match, which generates several million dollars in advertising, broadcast rights, sponsorship and tourism, also welcomed the decision.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in a social media post, thanked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for “ensuring that the game we all love continues.”
Veteran Indian journalist Pradeep Magazine said AFP“common sense prevailed on all sides.” Financial considerations would have been taken into account, he added.
“Everyone realized that losing the revenue from an India-Pakistan match would have been a lose-lose situation for all ICC member countries.”
Acrimonious accumulation
The 20-team tournament was overshadowed by acrimonious political tension. Bangladesh, who refused to play in India due to security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.
In protest, Islamabad ordered the national team not to face co-hosts India in the Group A match.
Pakistan, who beat the Netherlands in the opening match of the tournament on Saturday, would have conceded two points had they withdrawn.
Pakistan will play all their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka under an ICC agreement that ensures the two nations will only meet on neutral territory.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Friday, ahead of their opening win against the United States, that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash whether the match takes place or not.
“We did not say no to their participation,” Suryakumar said. “Our flights are booked and we are leaving for Colombo.”
