Phone name between Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seems to have been the game-changer in convincing Pakistan to play India.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
A phone name between Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday (February 9, 2026) evening seems to have been the game-changer in convincing Pakistan to play India within the scheduled T20 World Cup match in Colombo.
Deciding to play peacemaker, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of International Affairs reached out to the Pakistani authorities on Sunday (February 8) by the 2 excessive commissions in Colombo and Islamabad. After swift discussions, a name between President Dissanayake and PM Sharif was scheduled Monday evening. “The phone name between the President and Prime Minister lasted practically half-hour,” Sri Lanka’s International Minister Vijitha Herath advised The Hindu Tuesday morning, including: “it’s cricket diplomacy!”
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Whereas Sri Lanka initiated a name between the leaders, Bangladesh, too, had made formal requests to the Pakistan Cricket Board, in line with a put up by the Authorities of Pakistan on social media platform ‘X’. “The Authorities of Pakistan has reviewed the formal requests prolonged to the PCB by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, in addition to the supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and different member nations. These correspondences sought Pakistan’s management in securing a viable answer to latest challenges,” the put up stated. It referred to a “heat and pleasant dialog” between President Dissanayake and PM Sharif, during which they “recalled that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had all the time stood shoulder to shoulder, particularly throughout difficult occasions.” The Sri Lankan President requested the Prime Minister to accord critical consideration to amicably resolve the deadlock, it stated.
President Dissanayake wrote on social media platform ‘X’ round midnight, “Delighted that the eagerly awaited India and Pakistan match on the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will proceed as deliberate. As co-host of the match, Sri Lanka thanks the ICC and all involved for his or her efforts. Sri Lanka hasn’t forgotten the solidarity proven by each India and Pakistan throughout the 1996 World Cup, after they performed in Colombo at a time when others refrained because of safety issues.”
In the meantime, the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) issued an announcement late Monday (February 9) evening confirming the event. “The dialogue between ICC and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) befell as a part of a broader engagement, with each events recognising the necessity for constructive dealings and being united, dedicated and purposeful of their aspirations to serve one of the best pursuits of the sport with integrity, neutrality and cooperation,” it stated.
Printed – February 10, 2026 08:41 am IST