Why Mohammad Hafeez is Calling for ‘Complete Sportsmanship’ in India-Pakistan World Cup Clash

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The high-stakes India vs Pakistan showdown in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is officially back on track for 15 February at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium. Following a tense 10-day standoff where Pakistan threatened a boycott in solidarity with Bangladesh, a series of diplomatic interventions by the ICC and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake secured a ‘U-turn’ from the Pakistan government.

With the global cricket ecosystem holding its breath, the focus has now shifted from political boycotts to an urgent call for sportsmanship to prevent the toxic on-field tensions seen in previous tournaments.

The Road to Colombo: Diplomacy Wins the Day


The plan for this huge game almost failed as Pakistan wanted to protest after Bangladesh left the tournament for safety concerns. However, the tournament is worth a lot of money and fame, which eventually made the boycott difficult to carry out. A report from The Economic Times says that Pakistan's government changed its mind after talking with the respective cricket boards from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This ended a long delay that had worried cricket fans everywhere.

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Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez wants a change in how the players act. He remembers the 2025 Asia Cup, where players refused to shake hands. Hafeez says the "spirit of the game" must come first. As noted by Circle of Cricket, Hafeez stated: "Whenever this match is played... it should be played with complete sportsmanship. We don't want matches like the Asia Cup ones. If it's going to be played like that, then frankly, I'd rather not watch it at all."

Hidden Costs of the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup


The cricket boards are happy, but the fans have many concerns over the whole incident. The late announcement has made travel very expensive. Flights from Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai to Colombo now cost five times more than usual. This is a huge burden for the average supporter who wants to see the game live.

Apart from this, travelers are also facing issues as the visa website is quite busy owing to high demand. Hotels in Colombo have doubled their prices as well. Some rooms now cost over $400 (approximately Rs. 36,000) for one night, though the stadium tickets start at LKR 1500 (approximately Rs. 430). For many fans, the price of this ‘peace-building’ match is simply too high.

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In the upcoming months, we will see if cricket can stay away from local politics. The success of the Colombo match will prove whether sports can truly bring rivals together or if every future tournament will face these same threats.