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India registered a 93-run win over Namibia in the T20 World Cup as Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya starred, while Gerhard Erasmus impressed with a four-wicket haul ahead of the Pakistan showdown.

India crush Namibia by 93 runs but concerns linger before Pakistan clash

India registered a 93-run win over Namibia in the T20 World Cup as Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya starred, while Gerhard Erasmus impressed with a four-wicket haul ahead of the Pakistan showdown.

Sanju Samson disappointed again, Ishan Kishan dazzled and his mentor Hardik Pandya entertained but India's 93-run victory over Namibia in New Delhi on Thursday wasn't exactly the Box Office hit one expected ahead of a tense T20 World Cup face-off against Pakistan.
The victory felt less like an assurance and more like the calm before the cricketing tempest with Pakistan lying in wait.
The margin of victory, India's highest in a T20 World Cup, won't depict the entire picture as little-known Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus came out as a surprise package by taking 4 for 20 in India's final total of 209 for 9, despite Kishan's smashing 24-ball-61 and Pandya's 52 off 28 balls.
In reply, the Namibian batting unit did struggle against the kind of attack that they hardly get to play, as the innings ended on 116 in 18.2 overs.
Varun Chakravarthy (3/7 in 2 overs) and Pandya (2/21 in 4 overs) shared the bulk of the spoils and India now need just one more win in their next two games to qualify for the Super Eights.
Why India's batting show, despite a 200-plus score, would be considered below par is because of the Namibian skipper.
Erasmus' eerie side-arm action created considerable discomfort for the Indian batters, including Kishan, Pandya and Tilak Varma, as he also bowled from behind the crease at times.
The 24 deliveries that Erasmus bowled was certainly an eye opener for the Indian batters as to what they can expect from the Pakistani freak Usman Tariq, who would pose even more probing questions on a tackier Premadasa track in Colombo.
When Namibia batted, they used the long handle to good effect but one always knew that it was just a matter of time before Chakravarthy and Axar Patel (2/20) come and demolish them in unison.
Earlier, Samson's three-sixes innings was akin to a short-lived Instagram reel but Kishan's batting was a gripping web series, full of drama, action and anticipation.
Kishan muscled five sixes and half a dozen boundaries for a 20-ball-50 that set the foundation for a marauding Hardik Pandya (52 off 28 balls) to take the team to a total that looked beyond the reach of this Namibian batting line-up.
However, Erasmus gave a fantastic account of himself and would certainly keep Pakistan's lethal weapon Tariq interested come Sunday.
Erasmus bowled side-arm deliveries in between the stock ball which is round arm.
As a variation, he also bowled from behind the crease to shorten the length, as a set Tilak Varma (25) couldn't reach to the pitch of the delivery.
It was a flat Kotla deck but Sanju Samson (22 off 8 balls) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav, with a run-a-ball 12, missed out on scoring big with the African side making some sort of a comeback with the ball during the middle overs.
Surya certainly got the best delivery of the innings from left arm spinner Bernard Scholtz, who got one to dip and turn as the skipper gave the charge, missed, and was duly stumped.
It was a golden opportunity for Samson to make it count.
The three sixes -- one down the ground and the other two a product of sinewy wrists -- sent the capacity crowd into raptures.
But another cute flick didn't have the wings to clear the fielder at the cow corner.
Samson's knock was full of intent but fell short in effectiveness quotient.
The difference between Kishan and Samson over the past one month has been consistency and understanding the value of a God-send second chance.
The Namibian pacers didn't stand any chance against him and the moment they erred in length, Ishan's willow came down like a sledgehammer at a tremendous bat speed and the sixes soared into the stands.
During the back-10, India's MVP Pandya took charge as his four sixes and four boundaries kept the momentum going, with Shivam Dube (23 off 16 balls) giving him good support in a 81 run stand off just 6.3 overs.

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam will attend the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo, hoping to ease tensions with the BCCI amid recent disputes involving ICC decisions.

BCB Chief Aims to Mend Ties with BCCI at India-Pakistan T20 Clash

BCB Chief Mends Fences with BCCI at T20 Clash

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam will attend the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo, hoping to ease tensions with the BCCI amid recent disputes involving ICC decisions.

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam says he will be in Colombo to watch the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash on Sunday where he expects to break ice with the BCCI after tense exchanges over the past few weeks.
Speaking to Bangladesh newspaper 'Pratham Alo', Islam said the invitation for the high-profile game has come from the ICC.
"The ICC has taken a decision. The major stakeholders of the ICC are these five Asian countries and for the India-Pakistan World Cup match on the 15th, they want representatives of all five Asian countries to be present at the ground together, watch the match together and talk to one another," Islam said.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan form the Asian block in the world body.
Asked if the meet could be an opportunity to end tensions with the BCCI, Islam said, "You can consider it as something like that."
The BCCI-BCB strife started after the Indian Board ordered the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders for unspecified "developments all around."
It was widely speculated that the move was triggered by political violence in Bangladesh in which Hindus have been targeted.
Bangladesh responded by refusing to travel to India for their World Cup matches citing security worries.
However, the ICC, led by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, rejected their concerns, describing the threat perception as low to moderate after its own assessment.
Bangladesh were eventually replaced by Scotland in the tournament after refusing to budge from their position despite lengthy discussions with the world body.
Their omission led to the Pakistan government announcing a boycott of the game against India as an expression of solidarity with Bangladesh.
But the impasse was resolved after the BCB and the Sri Lankan government persuaded Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to withdraw the call.
Following another round of discussions, the ICC decided not to penalise BCB for its previous stance and also allotted one ICC event to Bangladesh in the 2028-2031 cycle.
Islam said the board will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure that the assurances are cast in stone.
"We will also enter into an agreement. The agreement will be line by line, an MoU-type document, so that there is no uncertainty," said Islam.
"You know that earlier when we held the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting in Dhaka, a similar issue arose. There as well, we prepared a MoU-type document so that no one could ever deviate from the contract in any way.
"Similar discussions (regarding preparing the MoU) with the ICC are more or less finalised," he added.

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has downplayed the hype around the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash, calling it a normal match while expressing confidence after his team’s strong start.

Farhan: India Clash Just Another Match, Pakistan Uplifted

Farhan on India Clash: Just Another Match for Us

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has downplayed the hype around the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash, calling it a normal match while expressing confidence after his team&rsquo;s strong start.

Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan has played down the hype surrounding Sunday's T20 World Cup clash against bitter foes India, calling it a "normal match" although the mindset of his team will be "different" from previous games.
Pakistan sit atop Group A with back-to-back wins over the Netherlands and the USA. Even though the victory against the Dutch team was a narrow one, Pakistan looked quite assured in their 32-run triumph over the Americans last night in which Farhan smashed a 41-ball 73 to be deservedly adjudged the player of the match.
During the post-match media briefing, the opener fielded queries on the game against India that is finally on after his government withdrew its boycott call.
"See, when you win two matches and are at the top of the table, you feel confident. The upcoming match is not such a big deal, we're not playing against them for the first time," he responded when asked about team's mindset.
"We've played before and this time we'll play with a different mindset. You've seen us...You must have seen that Shadab (Khan) is making runs, (Mohammad) Nawaz is scoring runs. So hopefully you will enjoy our game against them," he said.
"It's a normal match. We'll play like a normal match. We won't put it in our head that this is an India-Pakistan match, it is a normal match and we will play it like a normal match," he added.
The India-Pakistan tensions, which peeked after the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack in 2025, have spilled on to the cricket field as well.
The two sides played out tense games during the Asia Cup, all of them won by India, including the final.
India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav had stated that given his team's dominance in recent years, he no longer considers the rivalry against Pakistan an evenly-matched one.
Farhan disagreed with that assessment.
"No, I think the way we played in the last Asia Cup, we didn't play one-sided. We played and fought till the end. We didn't play a one-sided match till then and hopefully this time we'll play a wonderful game," he asserted.
On whether he has any specific plans in place to tackle India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Farhan said, "I think when you make runs you are confident. I am also very confident and the way the last two innings have gone, I'm very confident."

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif for withdrawing the boycott, allowing the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo to proceed.

Sri Lanka President thanks Pakistan PM for India match boycott withdrawal

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif for withdrawing the boycott, allowing the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo to proceed.

Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for directing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to end the boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo on February 15.&nbsp;
The India-Pakistan match will go ahead as scheduled after Pakistan's government decided to withdraw its boycott call following persuasion from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, ending an impasse that cast a shadow on the ongoing tournament.&nbsp;
"Delighted that the eagerly awaited India Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 cricket World Cup in Colombo will go ahead," Dissanayake said on X platform.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Thank you Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMShehbaz</a> for ensuring the game we all love goes on. 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 <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICC</a> and all&hellip;
&mdash; Anura Kumara Dissanayake (@anuradisanayake) <a href="https://twitter.com/anuradisanayake/status/2020928822288490780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Dissanayake had called Sharif Monday night to convince him to play the game following the Sri Lanka Cricket letter addressed to PCB to change its decision.&nbsp;
Pakistan PM's office acknowledged Dissanayake's call in the government release which effectively ended the match boycott by his country.&nbsp;
Pakistan had earlier said they would not play the India match, which was seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh's removal from the tournament after the world body declined its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds.&nbsp;

The ICC announced no penalty for the Bangladesh Cricket Board over its refusal to play T20 World Cup matches in India, citing dialogue, neutrality, and future hosting commitments.

ICC not to sanction Bangladesh for refusal to play T20 World Cup in India

The ICC announced no penalty for the Bangladesh Cricket Board over its refusal to play T20 World Cup matches in India, citing dialogue, neutrality, and future hosting commitments.

The ICC on Monday said it would not be imposing any penalty on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for refusing to play its T20 World Cup matches in India.&nbsp;
The world governing body said it made the decision after a dialogue with the BCB as well as the Pakistan Cricket Board, which announced a boycott of the February 15 game against India to show its solidarity with Bangladesh.
"It is agreed that no financial, sporting or administrative penalty will be imposed on Bangladesh Cricket Board in relation to the current matter," the ICC said in a statement. "It is acknowledged that BCB retains the right to approach the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), should it choose to do so. This right exists under current ICC regulations and remains intact."
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The International Cricket Council, Pakistan Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board have concluded an open, constructive and congenial dialogue. Media Release: <a href="https://t.co/gLDIjB3JOp">https://t.co/gLDIjB3JOp</a>
&mdash; ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/2020916613462229482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The ICC said its "approach is guided by its principles of neutrality and fairness and reflects the shared objective of facilitative support rather than punishment."
Bangladesh had refused to travel to India for the ongoing mega-event citing security worries and were replaced by Scotland.
The world body also said that as part of an understanding, Bangladesh will also host an ICC Event between 2028 and 2031. "As part of this understanding, an agreement has been reached that Bangladesh will host an ICC event prior to the ICC Men&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2031, subject to the usual ICC hosting processes, timelines and operational requirements."
ICC said the move "reflects confidence in Bangladesh&rsquo;s capability as a host and reinforces the ICC&rsquo;s commitment to providing meaningful hosting opportunities across its membership to develop cricket in the country."
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said: "Bangladesh&rsquo;s absence from the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup is regrettable, but it does not alter the ICC&rsquo;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.&rdquo;
BCB president Aminul Islam had travelled to Pakistan on Sunday for discussions, including a virtual meeting with the ICC and the PCB, amid efforts to resolve the standoff.
In a statement issued in Dhaka earlier in the day, Islam said he had requested Pakistan to end its boycott of the T20 World Cup match against India, during his meeting with PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi in Lahore.
"Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket eco system," he said.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Naqvi had reached out to Islam and requested that he make a formal appeal to Pakistan.
"Bulbul was called by Naqvi to request that he issues a formal appeal to Pakistan to play the game (against India) and that was a respectable way of wriggling out of the mess," a source aware of the development said.
PCB chief Naqvi on Monday said a final decision on whether Pakistan would boycott the match against India would be clear within the next 24 hours, acknowledging hectic deliberations with the ICC that also involved his Bangladesh counterpart Islam.
The trigger for Bangladesh's refusal to play in India was the release of their pacer Mustafziur Rahman from the KKR squad on BCCI's instructions.
ICC reaffirms BCB's position as a valued Full Member
The ICC said it has concluded an "an open, constructive and congenial dialogue" with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). It said the dialogue covered several matters, including but not limited to the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup 2026 and the broader outlook for cricket in South Asia.
"While reflecting on the Bangladesh cricket team&rsquo;s unfortunate absence from the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup, the global governing body for cricket reaffirmed BCB's position as a valued Full Member, with a proud cricketing history and a vital role in the growth of the global game.
"The ICC also reiterated its continued facilitation of growth in one of cricket&rsquo;s most vibrant markets, with more than 200 million passionate fans to ensure that the national team's non-participation in ICC Men's T20 World Cup does not have any long-term effects on Cricket in the country," the world body said.
It said the dialogue reflected a forward-looking alignment reached in good faith and intended to provide clarity on the current position of the stakeholders.
"They do not alter, qualify or detract from the ICC&rsquo;s constitutional autonomy, governance framework or established decision-making processes, all of which remain fully applicable," said the ICC.
"The ICC, PCB and BCB, along with other Members, remain committed to continued dialogue, cooperation and constructive engagement in the best interests of the sport. All stakeholders acknowledge that the spirit of this understanding is to protect the integrity of the game and preserve unity within the cricket fraternity."

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to finalize whether the cricket team will boycott the February 15 T20 World Cup match against India, following ICC-PCB discussions and government involvement.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to take final call on India-Pakistan T20 WC match stand-off

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to finalize whether the cricket team will boycott the February 15 T20 World Cup match against India, following ICC-PCB discussions and government involvement.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi is set to request his Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to withdraw the boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India after being requested to do so by his Bangladesh counterpart, a PCB source has revealed.
Naqvi is set to brief Sharif on the latest developments on the issue later on Monday. The game against India is scheduled to be held in Colombo on February 15.
"Naqvi will brief the PM on the communications he has had with the Bangladesh, Sri Lankan and Emirates cricket boards and with the ICC on the crisis," the source said.
Bangladesh Cricket Board President, Amin ul Islam was in Lahore for the talks Naqvi had with Imran Khawaja, vice chairman and independent director of the ICC, on Sunday.
Sri Lanka and Emirates board have both urged the country to review its decision and the PCB source confirmed that Islam, while appreciating the support Pakistan has shown for Bangladesh cricket, also requested Naqvi to end the boycott.
He said that Naqvi is likely to ask the PM to permit the team to play India in the World Cup in view of the discussion and appeals from Sri Lanka, Emirates and Bangladesh boards. However, the final decision rests with Sharif and the PCB would abide by it.
The source said that during talks with Khawaja, Naqvi had raised a number of issues. "He questioned Khawaja if the ICC had kept quiet if the Pakistan team had refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy at the presentation from any Indian board official," the source said.
The trophy lies locked at the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) headquarters in Dubai after Naqvi, who currently heads the body, made it clear that only he would carry out the presentation formalities in full media glare.
Bangladesh were ousted from the World Cup after refusing to play in India citing security concerns.

A resolution on the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match boycott is expected within hours after ICC, PCB, and BCB officials held talks in Lahore, according to Pakistan media reports.

Breakthrough expected soon in India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match standoff

A resolution on the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match boycott is expected within hours after ICC, PCB, and BCB officials held talks in Lahore, according to Pakistan media reports.

A resolution to the standoff over the India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup 2026 is expected soon following high-level discussions involving the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), according to reports in Pakistani media.
Pakistan media outlets reported that the dispute is likely to be resolved through mutual consultation within the next 24 hours. Geo TV stated that the PCB is set to consult the Pakistan government for clear guidance on the issue, after which a formal announcement is expected.
An ICC delegation led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja, along with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and BCB President Aminul Islam, met in Lahore on Sunday to discuss Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to boycott the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup 2026 match against India, scheduled to be played on February 15 in Colombo.
According to Pakistani media reports, the lengthy negotiations have concluded, and a roadmap for resolving the dispute has been finalised between Imran Khawaja, Mohsin Naqvi, and Aminul Islam. The matter is expected to be settled through mutual consultation in the &ldquo;next few hours&rdquo;.
The latest development follows an announcement by the official X handle of the Pakistan government stating that the Men in Green would not take the field for the February 15 clash. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later linked the boycott to the controversy involving Bangladesh, describing it as a symbol of solidarity.
Earlier, Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the 2026 T20 World Cup after their request to play all matches outside India was not accepted by the ICC. The request was reportedly made following the removal of Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the squad on the instructions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), amid concerns related to atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the ICC is understood to have asked the PCB to demonstrate the steps it had taken to mitigate the &lsquo;Force Majeure&rsquo; situation, as required under the Members Participation Agreement (MPA). According to ESPNCricinfo, the ICC received an email from the PCB citing government orders as the reason for its proposed boycott. The communication was sent less than 10 days before the start of the tournament.
The ICC is also believed to have laid out detailed conditions under which &lsquo;Force Majeure&rsquo; can be legitimately invoked, including the evidentiary threshold for non-participation, as well as the sporting, commercial, and governance implications of such a move.
The global governing body has reportedly informed the PCB about the potential material damage it could suffer if the match does not take place. While the ICC is keen to avoid confrontation, its constitution allows for the suspension or termination of membership in cases of serious breaches of obligations.
The PCB, however, believes that it has a strong case if the dispute escalates. Officials have reportedly referred to a previous dispute with the BCCI that was taken to the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) over a bilateral series.
The dispute related to allegations that the BCCI failed to honour a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two boards to play six bilateral series between 2013 and 2015. Although the PCB lost its claim for damages, it maintains that the Indian government&rsquo;s refusal to grant permission for the series at the time sets a precedent, according to ESPNCricinfo.
With consultations continuing among the ICC, PCB, and BCB, stakeholders are hopeful that a final decision on the high-profile India-Pakistan clash will be announced in the coming hours.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi met ICC and Bangladesh officials in Lahore as talks intensified to resolve the standoff over Pakistan’s proposed boycott of the India match in the T20 World Cup.

PCB chief Naqvi meets BCB president Aminul and ICC deputy chair Khwaja in Lahore

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi met ICC and Bangladesh officials in Lahore as talks intensified to resolve the standoff over Pakistan&rsquo;s proposed boycott of the India match in the T20 World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday met his Bangladesh counterpart Aminul Islam and ICC deputy chair Imran Khwaja in Lahore, even as efforts to resolve the standoff over Pakistan's proposed boycott of the high stakes T20 World Cup match against India gather pace.
The meeting, images of which were released by the PCB, took place at the Gaddafi Stadium. Khwaja arrived in Lahore for talks with PCB officials amid growing indications that the deadlock over the high-profile February 15 clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Colombo could be resolved, paving the way for the match to go ahead.
Khwaja, who represents Singapore in the ICC, is an influential figure in the world governing body and has voting rights on the board as an associate member director. A source close to the PCB confirmed Khwaja has been nominated by the ICC board as a mediator on the controversial subject.
"He has been in talks with Mohsin Naqvi for a while now and he is reaching Lahore today to first talk to the PCB chief and also the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President, Aminul Islam," the source said.
Aminul is expected to be part of the discussions aimed at persuading Pakistan to reconsider its decision not to play India in the World Cup. The two officials -- Khwaja and Aminul -- were greeted at the airport by senior PCB officials and then driven to the Gaddafi Stadium.
A PCB source said that Khwaja and Aminul, after their discussion with Naqvi, will have a meeting with some ICC governing board members virtually later Sunday. The source said the ICC was doing its best to convince PCB to get permission from its government for the February 15 match.
Aminul reached Lahore ahead of Khwaja and his presence is significant because the dispute between the PCB and ICC began because of the apex body's decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the former refused to play their World Cup matches in India citing security reasons.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif recently said that Pakistan's decision to not play against India was taken to show solidarity with Bangladesh, whose request to move their matches from India to Sri Lanka was rejected by the ICC.
Naqvi has not commented much on the instructions from the government to boycott the India match but a reliable source said the situation has changed after the Sri Lankan cricket board sent an email to the PCB, urging them to end the boycott.
ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta has also been to Colombo to meet with the President of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Shammi Silva who sent the email to Naqvi to play the India match in the World Cup.
The ICC has already sought an explanation from Pakistan on how the 'Force Majeure' clause can be invoked to justify the team's refusal to play the T20 World Cup match against India after the PCB tried to wriggle out of the situation by putting the onus on its government.
But there is a glimmer of hope now as PCB has approached the ICC for deliberations, as per an ICC Director, who feels that the marquee clash will eventually take place.
The ICC is currently engaging with the board in a structured manner to explore possible resolutions, with a view that the interest of the game must supersede unilateral action.
Sri Lanka Cricket has warned PCB to reconsider its decision citing huge financial losses for all stakeholders.
The trigger for Bangladesh's withdrawal was the release of their pacer Mustafziur Rahman from the KKR squad on BCCI's instructions.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav says team will travel to Colombo for ICC T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, despite Pakistan government boycotting the match.

'Our flight is booked, we are going there': Suryakumar on India's T20WC match against Pak

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav says team will travel to Colombo for ICC T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, despite Pakistan government boycotting the match.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav on Thursday said his team will travel to Colombo for its ICC T20 World Cup match against Pakistan even though the neighbouring country has announced a boycott of the game.&nbsp;
India are scheduled to face the arch-rivals in February 15 but Pakistan's cricket team has been told by its government to skip the game after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland for refusing to play in India on account of "security concerns".&nbsp;
"I feel their decision is not in my control. I wish I could take their decisions call but it is their call. We had played in the Asia Cup as well and we played them three times," Suryakumar said during the pre-tournament captains' press meet in Mumbai.&nbsp;
The World Cup begins on Saturday and India will take on USA in its opening match on the same evening.&nbsp;
"Our mindset is pretty clear. We have not said no (to playing against Pakistan). They have. ICC has given the fixture. Our flight is booked and we are going there (to Colombo)," "The team discussion is that we are playing first on February 7, then we will go there," he added.&nbsp;
"We played some good cricket against them. We have been told that the game is on 15th, the game is at a neutral venue and if we get an opportunity we will play. It's a difficult call for them (Pakistani players) as well," he observed.&nbsp;

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif defended the decision to skip the T20 World Cup match against India, calling it a considered move in support of Bangladesh.

Decision to boycott India game appropriate, we're with Bangladesh: Pak PM Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif defended the decision to skip the T20 World Cup match against India, calling it a considered move in support of Bangladesh.

Calling Pakistan's boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India an "appropriate decision, the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that it was a "considered stance" to support Bangladesh.
Pakistan's cricket team has been told by the government to skip the February 15 game in Colombo after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland for refusing to play its games in India on account of "security concerns".
"We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won't play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field,&rdquo; Sharif stated after a government meeting in Karachi.
"We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision. We are with Bangladesh," he added.
In response, Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul posted "Thank You, Pakistan" on his official Facebook page, while quoting Sharif's statement.
A livid ICC has warned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of serious consequences if it fails to show up for the high-profile match, which is a money magnet at the big event for sponsors, broadcasters and advertisers.
The world body has hoped that the PCB will "consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of."
Pakistan has reached Colombo for its other preliminary engagements, starting with a game against the Netherlands on Saturday.
The country's cricket board has already made it clear that it supports the government's position and would go by its advice even if a rematch against India crops up during the knockout stage.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had stated that the decision to drop Bangladesh was not fair and their security concerns should have been addressed.
The ICC's security assessment of Indian venues had placed the threat perception for Bangladesh in the low to moderate category.
Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India for its share of matches came after its pacer Mustafizur Rahman was ousted from the IPL on BCCI's instructions.
The Indian Board did not specify the reasons but it came amid increased attacks on Hindus there.

Sunil Gavaskar says Pakistan may make a U-turn on boycotting the India match but urges the ICC to take legal action over the decision.

ICC should take action: Gavaskar, Harbhajan slam Pakistan's boycott of T20WC match against India

Sunil Gavaskar says Pakistan may make a U-turn on boycotting the India match but urges the ICC to take legal action over the decision.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar foresees Pakistan making a "U-turn" but regardless of that, he called on the ICC to take legal action against the country for boycotting its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15.
Pakistan's government decided against granting permission to its cricket team to play the high-profile game in Colombo and though no official reason has been given, it is being widely construed as a gesture of solidarity with Bangladesh. Bangladesh were ousted from the World Cup after refusing to play their matches in India, citing security concerns.
"I think in the next four or five days, when reactions start pouring in from across the world and even from their former players, there is a possibility that Pakistan will change their stance," Gavaskar quipped on 'India Today'.
The tournament gets underway on February 7 and Pakistan are due to play all their games in Sri Lanka as part of an agreement with the BCCI and ICC.
"What's new in this? We all know Pakistan cricketers retire and then, four days later, take back their retirement, saying 'our fans told us to play more'. This might happen again," Gavaskar said.
"Pakistan players have set examples. They keep coming back from retirement. So something like that might happen before the 15th," he joked.
Both Gavaskar and Harbhajan said ICC would be justified in acting against Pakistan.
Among the available options, the world body could dock Pakistan's World Test Championship points, make them stagnant in ICC rankings, and prompt top member nations to refuse to travel there.
"If Pakistan does not have a valid reason to justify withdrawing from the big match against India, or if they cannot show grounds for breaching the contract, then action will be taken by the ICC Board," he said.
"I don't know what action they will take, but I think there are so many other boards involved, so it's not just going to be one person's decision. However, it should be something that ensures no other team in the future also considers doing that.
"The ICC will probably take legal action against Pakistan over the refusal to play against India, but what the result of such an action would be, I can't say," he added.
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan, speaking on his YouTube channel, said the ICC should not spare Pakistan for the last-minute decision.
"They didn't have a problem earlier. They've now stepped into what was Bangladesh's issue. This decision can affect the ICC, so the ICC has every right to take legal action. It can impact the entire tournament," he said.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla backed the ICC’s warning to Pakistan over its proposed boycott of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo.

ICC right to pull up Pakistan for boycotting Indo-Pak fixture: Rajeev Shukla

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla backed the ICC&rsquo;s warning to Pakistan over its proposed boycott of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Monday said the the International Cricket Council (ICC) was right in warning Pakistan of severe repercussions for its selective pullout from the high-profile T20 World Cup contest against India in Colombo on February 15.
Pakistan's decision, conveyed through an official government statement, is being seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh's removal from the tournament after the world body declined its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds.
The ICC has already warned Pakistan Cricket Board the a boycott of the marquee fixture could lead to punitive sanctions and said that the decision is not in the interest of the the game in general.
"The ICC has issued a big statement on this subject. It has highlighted element of sportsmanship. We completely agree with the ICC. BCCI will not make any comment until we speak to the ICC," Shukla told reporters here.
The raging controversy was sparked by Bangladesh pacer's Mustafizur Rahman's ouster from the IPL on instructions of the BCCI for unspecified reasons.
Bangladesh refused to travel to India after that citing security concerns.
Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor said the game can't be held to ransom like the way it is being at the moment.
"It is pretty disgraceful that sport has been politicised in this way on both sides, frankly. I don't think that Mustafizur (Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman) should have been denied his contract to play in Kolkata. It was most unfortunate intrusion of politics," Tharoor told reporters.
"I think the Bangladeshi reaction was an overreaction but it is also a reflection of the same and Pakistan is trying to show its solidarity with Bangladesh. This whole thing is spiralling out of control.
"I honestly think this is now a wake up call for all concerned to contact each other on an emergency basis, the ICC could be the platform for it - just say, let's call off this nonsense...You can't go on like this forever," he said.
The India-Pakistan clash is the most anticipated fixture of any ICC event, drawing peak global viewership, sponsorship interest and broadcast revenues.
The host broadcaster could incur advertisement revenue losses which could be anything in the range of Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore for a marquee game whose 10 second commercial slot can cost up to Rs 40 lakh.
While a walkover would hand full points to India, the ICC retains the authority to impose financial penalties on the PCB.
To get a walkover, the opposition team needs to be present on the ground for the coin toss.
The Indian team will therefore travel to Sri Lanka and Suryakumar Yadav will be walking out for the toss.
Once Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha doesn't appear, the match referee will award a walkover and two points to India.
There could also be a host of sanctions awaiting Pakistan, including docking of WTC points, no movement in ICC rankings, top member nations refusing to travel there and last but not the least -- sanctions on participation of players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Pakistan are scheduled to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.
All their matches will be played at the SSC ground in Colombo.

Pakistan has announced a boycott of its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. The ICC has warned of possible sanctions and major financial losses.

Pakistan to boycott T20WC game against India, ICC warns of serious implications

Pakistan has announced a boycott of its T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. The ICC has warned of possible sanctions and major financial losses.

Pakistan on Sunday announced a boycott of its high-profile men's T20 World Cup group league match against India, a move that is likely to have serious repercussions even as the government cleared the national team's participation in the rest of the global event starting February 7.
"The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India," the government posted on social media.
The decision, conveyed through an official government statement, is being seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh's removal from the tournament after the world body declined its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds.
The ICC, on its part, questioned the Pakistan government's decision and also issued a warning that this boycott could lead to punitive sanctions.
"The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of," the global body said in a statement.
"While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan," it further stated.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had said that it would reassess its participation following that decision as it showed solidarity with Bangladesh.
In a statement posted on social media, the government of Pakistan said it has granted approval to the Pakistan cricket team to take part in the tournament but said the team "shall not take the field" for the February 15 fixture against India in Colombo.
The India-Pakistan clash is the most anticipated fixture of any ICC event, drawing peak global viewership, sponsorship interest and broadcast revenues.
The host broadcaster could incur advertisement revenue losses which could be anything in the range of Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore for a marquee game whose 10 second commercial slot can cost up to Rs 40 lakh.
While a walkover would hand full points to India, the ICC retains the authority to impose financial penalties on the PCB.
To get a walkover, the opposition team needs to be present on the ground for the coin toss. The Indian team will hence travel to Sri Lanka and Suryakumar Yadav will be walking out for the toss. Once Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha doesn't appear, the match referee will award a walkover and two points to India.
There could also be a host of sanctions which includes docking of WTC points, no movement in ICC rankings, top member nations refusing to travel to Pakistan and last but not the least &mdash; sanctions on participation of players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Pakistan are scheduled to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18. All matches will be played at the SSC ground in Colombo.
A source close to the PCB said that the Board Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, will give more details to the media soon.
"What will be interesting to see is what reason the PCB gives for the government denying them permission to play India on February 15 and whether it was a unilateral government decision or the PCB was on board as well," the source said.
The current stand-off is due to ICC's decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after it declined to accept security assurances for hosting matches in India and sought a complete shift of its fixtures to Sri Lanka.
The ICC rejected the request and replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, a move that triggered sharp reactions within Pakistan's cricketing and political establishment even as several former Pakistan players and officials advised against taking any decision that can hit country's cricket.
However, neither the PCB nor the government has made it clear as to what happens if Pakistan and India clash in the knock-out stages of the competition.
Pakistan and India's matches in the Asia Cup events or ICC tournaments are considered the main source of revenue for broadcasters and the global governing body.
In last year's Asia Cup both teams played thrice against each other in the UAE.

India U-19 defeated Pakistan by 58 runs in a Super Six clash at Bulawayo, with Kanishk Chouhan starring with bat and ball to secure a semifinal berth against Afghanistan.

U19 World Cup: All-rounder Kanishk star in Pakistan rout as India reach semis

India U-19 defeated Pakistan by 58 runs in a Super Six clash at Bulawayo, with Kanishk Chouhan starring with bat and ball to secure a semifinal berth against Afghanistan.

Young Kanishk Chouhan showed his all-round prowess as India comfortably outclassed arch-rivals Pakistan by 58 runs in a Super Six encounter to qualify for the semifinal of the ICC U-19 World Cup in Bulawayo on Sunday.
India will meet Afghanistan in the semifinal, while England and Australia will play in the other last-four encounter.
It was all-rounder Kanishk, whose quickfire 29-ball 35 and a 50-run stand for the eighth wicket with Khilan Patel (21 not out off 15 balls), that took India U-19 to a decent 252 in 49.5 overs.
For Pakistan to qualify for the semi-finals on account of a better run-rate, they needed to reach 253 in 33.3 overs. However, their batters didn&rsquo;t seem interested in making a match, managing only 167 for 4 in 33.3 overs before finally getting bowled out for 194 in 46.2 overs.
In the bowling department, Kanishk largely stopped the Pakistan team on its tracks with figures of 1 for 30 in 10 overs, including an astounding 40 dot balls.
With the pitch assisting spinners, left-arm spinner Khilan Patel (3/35 in 9.2 overs) and skipper Ayush Mhatre (3/21 in 8 overs) also choked the run flow throughout the middle overs.
Pakistan&rsquo;s Asia Cup hero Sameer Minhas was dismissed by Henil Patel&rsquo;s off-cutter, and the remaining batters displayed a defensive mindset.
"There was a good start but in the middle, the ball was spinning. The way KC (Kanishk's nickname) batted was brilliant. Vedant (Trivedi) was batting well in the nets, so I was confident in him. Boys were contributing. Pakistan batters batted well in the first 25 overs, after that the spinners bowled really well. We are looking match by match. Just want to win the semi-finals," skipper Mhatre said after the match.
Earlier, Kanishk and Khilan added 50 runs in just 5.1 overs to provide a final flourish after Vedant&rsquo;s patient 68 off 98 balls helped lay a platform.
Put into bat, Vaibhav Suryavanshi (30 off 22 balls) started in his typical attacking fashion but, despite getting a reprieve off left-arm seamer Mohammad Sayyam (2/69), he was dismissed trying a second pull-shot in as many deliveries.
Skipper Ayush Mhatre (0)'s nightmarish run in Youth ODIs continued with a first-ball duck, while Aaron George was beaten by a ripper from lanky Abdul Subhan (3/33), which pitched on middle and moved slightly to dislodge the off-stump.
From 47 for no loss, India were reduced to 47 for 3, after which left-handed Vihaan Malhotra (21) joined Vedant and consolidated the innings with a 62-run stand.
However, none of the top-order batters, including Vedant, could lift the tempo due to the slowness of the track that made shot-making difficult. The right-handed Vedant played 98 balls and hit two fours and a six before a poor shot off a full-toss from left-arm wrist spinner Momin Qamar brought about his downfall.
Khilan and Kanishk chanced their arms just when it was required to take the team to a safe score.
As has been the norm, players didn&rsquo;t shake hands after the match.
Brief Scores: India 252 in 49.5 overs (Vedant Trivedi 68, Kanishk Chouhan 35; Abdul Subhan 3/33) beat Pakistan 194 in 46.2 overs (Hamza Zahoor 42, Usman Khan 68, Farhan Yousuf 38; Khilan Patel 3/35, Ayush Mhatre 3/21) by 58 runs.

India hit back at Pakistan in the UN Security Council, calling it a nation that bombs its own people and carried out genocidal crimes during Operation Searchlight in 1971.

India Confronts Pakistan at UNSC Over Genocide Allegations

India Confronts Pakistan at the UNSC

India hit back at Pakistan in the UN Security Council, calling it a nation that bombs its own people and carried out genocidal crimes during Operation Searchlight in 1971.

In a strong retort against Pakistan in the UN Security Council, India on Monday said its neighbour as a country that &ldquo;bombs its own people&rdquo; and conducts &ldquo;systematic genocide&rdquo;.
During his remarks to the UNSC open debate on &ldquo;Women, Peace and Security&rdquo;, India&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said Pakistan conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971 and sanctioned a systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women citizens by its own army.
&ldquo;Every year, we are unfortunately fated to listen to the delusional tirade of Pakistan against my country, especially on Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian territory they covet,&rdquo; the Indian envoy said.
&ldquo;A country that bombs its own people, conducts systematic genocide, can only attempt to distract the world with misdirection and hyperbole,&rdquo; Harish said.
The world sees through Pakistan&rsquo;s propaganda, he added.
On March 25, 1971, the Pakistani army had launched a brutal crackdown involving widespread civilian killings throughout East Pakistan code-named &lsquo;Operation Searchlight&rsquo;.
Harish told the council meeting chaired by Russia that India&rsquo;s record on the "women, peace and security" agenda is unblemished and unscathed.
India&rsquo;s strong response in the council came after Pakistan, in its statement, raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. &ldquo;To exclude Kashmiri women from the Women, Peace and Security agenda erases its legitimacy and undermines its universality,&rdquo; the Pakistani delegate said in her statement.
Harish, in his remarks, also said that India remains unwavering in its commitment to the &ldquo;Women, Peace and Security&rdquo; agenda and stands ready to share its expertise with partners, particularly those in the Global South, fostering collective solutions to shared challenges.
He highlighted India&rsquo;s consistent contribution to UN peacekeeping as an expression of its commitment to global peace.
&ldquo;What distinguishes India's peacekeeping legacy is not merely the scale of our contribution, but our pioneering recognition of women as indispensable agents of peace,&rdquo; he said.
As early as the 1960s, India deployed women medical officers to the Congo, marking one of the earliest instances of women serving in UN peacekeeping operations, the ambassador said.
This was not merely a symbolic gesture but a practical acknowledgement that women's perspectives, skills, and presence are essential to effective peacekeeping, he said.
In February 2025, India hosted the International Conference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global South, bringing together women peacekeepers from 35 nations.
The two-day gathering examined the evolving challenges facing women in peacekeeping operations &mdash; from addressing sexual exploitation and abuse to leveraging technology for enhanced effectiveness.
The conference was not merely a forum for discussion but a platform for developing actionable strategies to increase women's participation and their impact in future peace missions, he said.

India extended their unbeaten ODI record against Pakistan to 12-0 with a commanding 88-run victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, powered by Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, and pacer Kranti Gaud’s standout performances in Colombo.

Women's World Cup: India crush Pakistan by 88 runs to extend unbeaten streak

India extended their unbeaten ODI record against Pakistan to 12-0 with a commanding 88-run victory in the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025, powered by Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, and pacer Kranti Gaud&rsquo;s standout performances in Colombo.

The contrasting knocks of Harleen Deol and Richa Ghosh found ample support from the bowlers as India etched a commanding 88-run win over Pakistan in a drama-filled ICC Women's World Cup match in Colombo on Sunday.
Deol&rsquo;s composed 46 off 65 balls and Richa Ghosh&rsquo;s spirited 20-ball 35 lifted India to a competitive 247 on a sluggish track after the match referee erroneously ruled the toss in favour of Pakistan, who elected to bowl first.
Pacer Kranti Gaud (3/20) dismantled Pakistan's top order while the spinners cleaned up the middle-order and tail, bundling them out for 159, despite a valiant effort from Sidra Amin (81 off 106 balls).
With this win, India extended their perfect head to head record to 12-0 in ODIs.
The match moved on familiar lines and the expected hostilities were conspicuous by its absence, but the day was not entirely bereft of drama.
India continued their &ldquo;no-handshake&rdquo; policy at the toss or after the match, sticking to the precedent set during the men&rsquo;s Asia Cup in the UAE.
The gaffe during the toss added to the list of amusements which later swelled through a bizarre run out and the 15-minute delay due to bugs invading the field.
Cutting back to cricketing matters, Pakistan's chase of 248 began in chaos when opener Muneeba Ali (2) was sensationally run out.
Facing Gaud, she survived an initial leg-before appeal which was ruled not out, but as she momentarily wandered out of the crease with the ball still in play.
An alert Deepti Sharma swooped in with a direct hit to break the stumps with Muneeba's bat still in the air, much to the disappointment of skipper Fatima Sana who argued with the umpire.
Gaud then struck twice in quick succession, first dismissing Sadaf Shamas (6), caught off her own bowling, and then removing Aliya Riaz (2), leaving Pakistan reeling at 26/3.
As the Indian bowlers tightened their grip, Sidra and Natalia Pervaiz (33) offered resistance with a 69-run stand, briefly steadying the innings before the inevitable collapse followed.
Earlier, Indian batters struggled to get going on a slow track but Deol&rsquo;s knock provided some stability in the middle overs, during Richa's cameo, pushing India near the 250-run mark.
Opener Pratika Rawal (31) gave India a brisk start, smashing Diana Baig for three consecutive fours, but star batter Smriti Mandhana (23) once again fell inside the power play, putting the top-order under early pressure.
After surviving an unsuccessful leg-before appeal off Baig, Mandhana was trapped in front of the wicket by Pakistan skipper Fatima.
The disciplined Pakistan bowlers kept the batters on a leash with tight lines and clever variations in pace, denying them any rhythm and chipping away at regular intervals.
Pacers Baig (4/69) and Sana (2/38) did the maximum damage, sharing six wickets between them.
Rawal was next to go, her attempted cut shot brushing the top of the off stump.
Deol showed composure, stitching together a 39-run stand with Harmanpreet (19) and then added 45 with Jemimah Rodrigues (32).
However, Harmanpreet fell to an inside edge just when she looked set, while Deol, after doing the hard work by playing herself in, squandered the chance to push on in an attempt to hit a boundary.
Jemimah, who had an early reprieve on two after being caught off a no-ball, was the next to depart for 32 as Pakistan maintained relentless pressure.
Thereafter, the experienced pair of Deepti) and Sneh Rana (20) steadied the innings with a 42-run partnership.
But just as India looked poised for a late flourish, Sana and Baig returned in the death overs to dismiss both.
Just when Pakistan seemed to have choked India's momentum with five late wickets, Richa unleashed a blistering little innings, hitting three fours and two sixes, including an audacious sweep to push India to an adequate total.&nbsp;

Middle-order batter Tilak Varma said India’s Asia Cup triumph was the “best reply” to Pakistan’s sledging, highlighting focus, partnerships, and calm under pressure.

Tilak Varma's Heroics Lead India to Asia Cup Victory Amidst Tensions

Tilak Varma Leads India to Asia Cup Glory

Middle-order batter Tilak Varma said India&rsquo;s Asia Cup triumph was the &ldquo;best reply&rdquo; to Pakistan&rsquo;s sledging, highlighting focus, partnerships, and calm under pressure.

Winning the Asia Cup was the "best reply" to an aggressive opposition, middle-order batter Tilak Varma said on Tuesday, revealing that he aced an initial bout of pressure and verbal volleys by Pakistan players en route his match winning half-century in the title clash.
Tilak made an unbeaten 69 to guide India to a five-wicket win over their arch-rivals at Dubai last Sunday.
"There was some pressure and nerves initially. But I have placed my country ahead of everything else and I wanted to win the match for the country. I knew If I succumbed to the pressure at that time I would be letting down myself and 140 crore people of the country," Tilak said after his arrival from Dubai last night. "I believed in the basics that I learned as a young cricketer from my coaches and executed it. The best reply to them was to win the match and that's what we did," he added.
Tilak admitted that the Pakistan players resorted to some intense sledging during the match, but he preferred to maintain silence while the chase of 147 was on.
"We lost three wickets quickly and things were a bit heated up then. I came to bat a bit earlier than normal. But I did not say anything or play a rash shot to let the team and country down," he said.
However, the Hyderabadi revealed that he gave a piece of his mind to Pakistan players once India surmounted the target.
"During the match, I was just focusing on my basics, I was not ready to answer them. Whatever I want to tell them I told them after the match and not when the game was going on.
"There were a lot of things happening in the middle but I can't reveal all of them. Those things happen in India vs Pakistan matches and they are part of the game. But our focus was on winning the match," he said.
India required to score 10 runs off the last over bowled by pacer Haris Rauf, and Tilak said he was able to overcome the pressure by then.
"I was not under pressure (in the last over). I knew that I will win the game. I was just thinking about my country and was focussing on one ball at a time. I backed myself to deliver for the country and I am so proud of it," he added.
Tilak said India won the match because they were able to stitch together partnerships on a not-so-easy pitch to bat on.
"I agree with Surya bhai's statement of 'no rivalry' but this is sports and we knew that they will come prepared for the final.
"We were expecting that and we were prepared when they took the pace off the ball and the pitch was also not easy to bat on. We made some good partnerships and won the match and are proud of that," he noted.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav pledged his Asia Cup match fee of ₹28 lakh to the armed forces and families of Pahalgam terror attack victims after India’s title win over Pakistan.

Suryakumar Yadav Donates Asia Cup Fee to Armed Forces

Suryakumar's Asia Cup Donation to Armed Forces

India captain Suryakumar Yadav pledged his Asia Cup match fee of ₹28 lakh to the armed forces and families of Pahalgam terror attack victims after India&rsquo;s title win over Pakistan.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav will donate his entire match fee from the just-concluded Asia Cup to the country's armed forces and the victims of Pahalgam terror attack.
India defeated bitter foes Pakistan by five wickets in the final to win the trophy on Sunday night in Dubai.
"I have decided to donate my match fees from this tournament to support our Armed Forces and the families of the victims who suffered from the Pahalgam terror attack. You always remain in my thoughts. Jai Hind," the 35-year-old posted on 'X' after the high-voltage win.
India players are entitled to Rs four lakh per match in the T20 format, which means that Suryakumar would be donating a total of Rs 28 lakh for the seven games played in the continental event.
The Indian team steadfastly refused to exchange pleasantries with the Pakistani side during the entire tournament, where it ended up beating Salman Ali Agha's men on three consecutive Sundays.
Suryakumar had taken the lead in snubbing Pakistan at every opportunity during the tournament.
He also paid tribute to the Pahalgam attack victims and the Indian armed forces after his team beat the arch foes in a group match on September 14. A furious Pakistan had accused him of making political statements and sought a ban on him in its complaint to the ICC.
The world body had then asked him to refrain from making any statement that might be construed political, besides imposing a 30 per cent fine on his match fee of that day.
The BCCI has challenged the fine on him after Suryakumar pleaded not guilty during the ICC hearing last week.&nbsp;

BCCI will strongly protest against ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi at ICC’s November meeting after India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from him, citing his anti-India stance.

Will protest strongly with ICC: BCCI on Indian team being denied Asia Cup trophy by Naqvi

BCCI will strongly protest against ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi at ICC&rsquo;s November meeting after India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from him, citing his anti-India stance.

The BCCI will lodge a "very strong protest" in the next ICC meeting in November against Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who walked away with the Asia Cup trophy after the Indian team refused to accept it from him in Dubai.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia justified the team's refusal saying that India cannot accept the trophy from a person who is "waging a war against the country." India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final on Sunday with Tilak Varma hitting an unbeaten 69 to be adjudged the Player of the Match for the summit clash.
"So far as the trophy is concerned, trophy distribution, India cannot take the trophy from the person who is waging a war against our country," Saikia said.
"We have taken a decision not to accept the trophy but that does not allow the gentleman to take away the trophy and the medals to his hotel," he added.
"This is unexpected, very childish in nature and we will launch a very strong protest with ICC in the forthcoming ICC meeting to be held in Dubai in the first week of November." Naqvi is also the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Interior Minister of his country. Saikia praised the Indian team for their unbeaten run in the competition.
"India won all the seven matches at the group stage. India won all the three matches. Thereafter in the group of four they won the matches and finally also," he said.
"Out of these seven matches, India won against Pakistan 3-0. So this is a big victory and (a) big time cricket achievement for the country." On the team's decision to play the tournament despite massive criticism of engagement with Pakistan in the backdrop of Pahalgam terror attack, Saikia said the Board has followed the policy set by the Indian government.
"...when it is a bilateral tournament, India is not going to play against Pakistan or any other hostile country and BCCI has been doing it for last 12 to 15 years," he said.
"And now the Government has said that in multinational tournaments -- Asia Cup is a multinational tournament --, or an international tournament where a lot of other countries are also involved. In those tournaments, Indian team, whether it is cricket or football, we have to play." "Otherwise, our other games will suffer or the federation will be banned by international federations, so we followed the policy of the central government. We participated inspite of the fact that there are some protests or some resistance from some quarters," he continued.
Saikia said beating Pakistan across three games of this Asia Cup will bring "happiness to our people".
"Today, with this handsome win over Pakistan and the thumping victory of 3-0, I am sure we will bring a lot of happiness to our people. The country is really proud of the performance of Indian cricket team," he said.&nbsp;

Pakistan defended 135 with a spirited bowling effort to beat Bangladesh by 11 runs in Dubai, setting up a blockbuster Asia Cup 2025 final against India.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh, set up first ever Asia Cup final date against India

Pakistan defended 135 with a spirited bowling effort to beat Bangladesh by 11 runs in Dubai, setting up a blockbuster Asia Cup 2025 final against India.

Pakistan's bowling unit came to the party when it mattered the most as they defended a modest 135 with all its might against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday, winning the Super 4s match by 11 runs to set up a maiden Asia Cup title clash with arch-rivals India.
Taking into account the simmering off-field tension between India and Pakistan, no one would be more happier than the Asian Cricket Council and the tournament's official broadcasters, who would be laughing their way to the bank after Bangladesh made a hash of their chase.
They came close in the end though, managing 124 for nine in 20 overs.
The target could have been chased with a bit of common sense and some proper cricketing shots, but the Bangladeshi batters found every possible way to get dismissed after Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/17 in 4 overs) bowled a brilliant opening spell, taking two wickets in the powerplay.
Once Haris Rauf (3/23 in 3 overs) got rid of the opposition danger-man Saif Hassan (18), who had warmed up with two sixes, none of the other batters showed the stomach for a fight. Rauf later polished off the tail with couple of express deliveries and kept his cool to bowl the final two deliveries on spot.
The saddest part was that none of the Bangladeshi batters had a clue as to how to play the spin troika of off-break bowler Saim Ayub (2/16 in 4 overs), slow left-arm orthodox Mohammed Nawaz (1/14 in 3 overs) and wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed (0/23 in 3 overs), who put the brakes on them during the middle overs.
Shamim Hossain (30 off 26 balls) played a horrible flat-batted reverse shot off a Afridi back-of-the-hand slower ball in his final over, and Bangladesh had no chance of scoring 39 in three overs.
Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers gave a fine account of themselves in humid conditions for the second day in a row as they restricted a fancied Pakistan batting line-up to 135 for eight in the winner-takes-it-all clash.
Senior Bangladesh bowlers Mustafizur Rahaman (1/33 in 4 overs), Taskin Ahmed (3/28 in 4 overs) and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2/18 in 4 overs) made full use of a tacky turner as none of the top-order Pakistan batters could make significant contributions.
Mohammed Haris (31 off 23 balls), their best batter in the tournament, once again kept them in the fight, with a plucky knock while Shaheen Shah Afridi (19) with a couple of sixes and a lucky Mohammed Nawaz (25 off 15 balls) also did their bit after a total of even 100 looked improbable.
It started with controversial opener Sahibzada Farhan (4) slashing a rising delivery from Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain at backward point snapping it. Sahibzada was Taskin's 100th wicket in T20 Internationals.
Saim Ayub (0), the over-rated Pakistani youngster, got his fourth duck as he couldn't clear the mid-on against off-spinner Mahedi Hasan (2/28 in 4 overs)'s bowling.
Fakhar Zaman (13), Hussain Talat (3) and Salman Ali Agha (19) were all gone even before the total reached 50. But Afridi, Haris and Nawaz struck a few sixes, and a few dropped catches, meant that Pakistan crossed the 125-run mark.

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