Pakistan, Feb. 11 -- India on Tuesday said facing a "quality" Pakistan side in Colombo would be a major challenge after authorities in Islamabad instructed their national team to play the scheduled ICC Men's T20 World Cup match on February 15, ending days of uncertainty around the high-profile fixture.

Read More: India calls Pakistan a 'quality' side ahead of high-voltage showdown

The federal government late Monday withdrew its earlier directive for Pakistan to boycott the match, resolving a week-long stand-off that had threatened one of the most anticipated encounters in world cricket. The decision followed intense diplomatic and sporting negotiations involving the International Cricket Council (ICC) and regional cricket boards.

India...