Pakistan’s cricket team is scheduled to depart for Colombo on Monday, with the decision on their participation in the Twenty20 World Cup yet to be finalized. The uncertainty arose after PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi cast doubt on the team’s involvement in the tournament due to Bangladesh’s exclusion.
Despite the ongoing debate, the Pakistan team is set to travel to Colombo alongside the Australian team via Air Lanka flight from Lahore. Naqvi’s meeting with Pakistan PM Shahbaz Sharif in Islamabad aimed to seek advice on whether to send the team to the World Cup or not.
The International Cricket Council’s rejection of Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to relocate matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns further complicated the situation. PM Sharif supported PCB’s stance in solidarity with Bangladesh but advised against boycotting the World Cup to avoid financial repercussions.
President Asif Zardari, the military establishment, and former PCB chairmen Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja all advised in favor of sending the team to Sri Lanka. The players have been instructed to maintain a positive outlook regarding their World Cup participation, with preparations underway for a three-match T20I series against Australia.
