The Pakistan government announced on Sunday that its cricket team will not play against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. While the team will skip the high-profile match, officials confirmed that Pakistan will still participate in the rest of the tournament. The team plans to travel to Sri Lanka on Monday to begin their campaign.
The decision comes after weeks of tension between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). This tension grew after the ICC removed Bangladesh from the tournament. Pakistan was the only nation to support Bangladesh during that dispute. Pakistan has chosen to take a “principled stand” by withdrawing from the match against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
Squad Ready for Sri Lanka
Despite the boycott of the single match, the Pakistan squad remains ready for the global event. The team will play all their other group matches in Sri Lanka. Sources say the players will leave for Colombo early on February 2. This move ensures Pakistan remains in the tournament and avoids the heavy financial penalties a full boycott would entail.
Impact on the Tournament
The India-Pakistan match is usually the most-watched game in cricket. Fans worldwide are surprised by the news. The ICC has not yet officially reacted to the boycott. If Pakistan follows through, India will likely receive the points for the match by default.
Pakistan will now focus on its opening game against the Netherlands on February 7. The team hopes to keep its focus on the trophy while the government handles the political side of the sport.
