AFP, Lahore

The Pakistani government cleared its national team on Sunday to compete in the Twenty20 World Cup starting from February 7, but stopped them from playing arch-rivals and tournament co-hosts India.

“The government of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the Twenty20 World Cup, however, the Pakistan team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February against India,” a Pakistan government release said.

The Pakistan team will fly to Colombo on Monday afternoon after a week of uncertainty in the wake of Bangladesh’s expulsion from the tournament.

The decision was announced after Pakistan’s cricket chief Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for a second time in a week, in Lahore on Sunday.

Naqvi had not previously said whether the national team would refuse to play in the Sri Lankan capital against India -- the highest revenue-generating game -- but the Shahbaz Sharif-led coalition government confirmed its decision on Sunday.

The World Cup runs from February 7 to March 8, The

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