Skipper Suryakumar Yadav addressed Pakistan’s decision to boycott the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India, stating that the Indian team is set to travel to Colombo on February 15 for the game at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Pakistan will not face India in the scheduled match on February 15, as their government has approved their participation in the World Cup with the condition of not playing against India. India and Pakistan are in Group A with Namibia, Netherlands, and the United States of America, with Pakistan’s matches set in Sri Lanka, co-hosting with India.
India will commence their campaign against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, while Pakistan will start against the Netherlands on the same day. Suryakumar emphasized that India has not refused to play against Pakistan; the decision came from the other side. The team is prepared to play and has flights booked for Colombo. Pakistan’s stance follows the ICC’s move to replace Bangladesh with Scotland due to security concerns, with Pakistan’s Prime Minister confirming their team’s non-participation against India.
The International Cricket Council expressed concerns over Pakistan’s decision to boycott the match against India, highlighting the importance of equal competition in global sporting events. The ICC hopes that the Pakistan Cricket Board will consider the long-term implications of this decision on cricket globally. Pakistan’s stance on not playing India in the T20 World Cup aligns with their belief in avoiding politics in sports and supporting Bangladesh’s position.
