A press release from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirming the national team's travel to the T20 World Cup was briefly removed and then republished with alterations, according to reports. This incident occurred amidst speculation regarding Pakistan's participation in the tournament, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, commencing on February 7.

Sources indicate that the initial press release was taken down shortly after its release and then re-uploaded with a modified paragraph. The exact nature of the changes remains unclear, but the incident has fueled further discussion regarding the decision-making process surrounding Pakistan's participation.

Prior to the release and subsequent deletion, reports suggested that Pakistan had already booked flights to Colombo for the team, with a planned departure on Monday, February 2. These arrangements were made even as uncertainty lingered over whether the team would ultimately participate. The final decision was expected to be made before the team's scheduled departure.

The uncertainty surrounding Pakistan's participation arose following the International Cricket Council's (ICC) rejection of the Bangladesh Cricket Board's request to move their World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. Subsequently, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi reportedly raised the possibility of Pakistan boycotting the event in protest. Naqvi also met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to seek guidance on the matter.

Despite the concerns and apparent threats of a boycott, many observers believed that Pakistan would ultimately participate in the T20 World Cup. Former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane stated that he did not believe Pakistan had the "guts" to boycott the tournament, and that they would participate.

The team, led by Captain Salman Ali Agha, is scheduled to play all its matches in Sri Lanka, specifically in Colombo and Pallekele. This arrangement was agreed upon with the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in December 2024, ensuring that the two boards would not play in each other's countries during ICC events. Pakistan is placed in Group A alongside the USA, India, Namibia, and the Netherlands. The highly anticipated match against India is scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.

The now-confirmed travel plans put to rest speculation that Pakistan would boycott the tournament. The team's focus will now shift to on-field performance and strategic preparations as they face top international competition.