The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has welcomed the announcement of the high-voltage Pakistan–India clash in the T20 World Cup.
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla termed the outcome of negotiations for the Pakistan-India match a major success and thanked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for persuading Pakistan to agree to play against India.
Speaking to the media in Delhi, Rajeev Shukla said the decision reached after talks between the ICC, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board was a positive and encouraging development in the interest of cricket.
He said ICC representatives, under the supervision of the chairman, visited Lahore, where detailed discussions were held with officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
The BCCI vice-president said the purpose of the talks was to resolve disputes while giving priority to cricket, adding that it was reassuring that all parties agreed on an acceptable and amicable solution.
Rajeev Shukla described the move as a major achievement for the ICC, saying the body not only addressed all concerns but also played a decisive role in bringing Pakistan back to the table. He confirmed that the match scheduled for 15 February in Colombo will now take place as planned, with Pakistan set to participate, calling it welcome news for fans.
He added that the concerns raised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board were also largely resolved following the talks, and that the board appreciated the efforts made by the ICC.
The BCCI vice-president said the decision was beneficial for all stakeholders and had cleared the path for the successful conduct of the World Cup, adding that it was a win for everyone involved, with cricket emerging as the biggest winner.
It may be recalled that the government of Pakistan has granted permission for the national cricket team to play against India on 15 February.
