Pakistan May Boycott India T20 Match
India and Pakistan are due to play their much-anticipated group-stage match at the ICC Men T20 World Cup in February but Pakistan is said to be contemplating boycotting the match which is to be held in Colombo on February 15. Sources on Monday gave information that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had explored different avenues to protest after the scandalous ruling of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to substitute Bangladesh with Scotland after the latter refused to visit India.
According to insiders, PCB is not ruling out any alternative, and the team might be included in the tournament. Missing the India match would cost Pakistan only two points but may lead to huge losses to the ICC in terms of finances. The PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi is supposed to meet the national squad, which has recently been selected to play at the World Cup to discuss the team strategy and overall plans before a final decision is reached in consultation with the federal government.
Naqvi pointed out what he termed as the ICC of having two standards, saying it did not favor Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a key stakeholder and according to him this form of injustice ought not to take place. He also made a scolding against the role that the India cricket board (BCCI) played in the decisions made by the ICC that it would force its position should any form of undue pressure be exerted.
Pakistan starts its participation in the world cup against the Netherlands on February 7 and then against the USA, India and Namibia. The Super Eight round will be conducted between February 21 and March 1 and semi-finals and the final will be held in early March in Colombo or Ahmedabad.
The possible boycott has created a lot of debate in the cricketing circles with fans and analysts discussing whether the protest by Pakistan would have an impact on the international relations within the sport and the financial stability of the tournament. Although the PCB focuses on equality among all the member countries, it is possible that once Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returns to the country, the final decision will depend on governmental consultation.
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