After days-long negotiations, Pakistan moved for the greater good of world cricket when its government gave the national cricket team the go-ahead to play their Twenty20 World Cup match against India on Sunday.

Pakistan had earlier refused to play the blockbuster fixture, which is the revenue generator for the International Cricket Council, after Scotland had been drafted in to replace Bangladesh at the World Cup following the latter country’s refusal to travel to India for their matches due to security concerns. The Pakistan Cricket Board had protested the decision of the India-led ICC. While the team was allowed to travel to the tournament it was instructed to forfeit the match against India.

With its finances in danger, the ICC came to the table with its director Imran Khawaja flying to Pakistan over the weekend. Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam also arrived, with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi at the centre of negotiations. Pakistan had already been requested by Sri Lanka, where the national team is playing their matches of the World Cup, and the UAE to reconsider their decision. The PCB, however, was fighting a bigger battle: to ensure equality in world cricket against the governing body that has for long acted on India’s whims.

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