Pakistan To Play Against India On February 15 In T20 World Cup | Exclusive

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has seemingly taken a U-turn on their decision to boycott the India game on February 15. The men in green will be taking the field against India this Sunday in Colombo, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s consultation with all stakeholders, including the establishment. The India vs Pakistan match is to take place as scheduled at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

According to top sources, Pakistan have agreed to play against arch-rivals India on special requests made by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the UAE Cricket Board, & the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). It has been understood that the Pakistan PM is holding a meeting with Mohsin Naqvi.

Top sources in Pakistan’s PMO have confirmed that the

country’s cricket board has got assurance from the ICC on their demands. Earlier, Naqvi had kept a few demands, includingthe resumption of Indo-Pak bilateral cricket and a tri-series involving Bangladesh, to offset the losses that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had incurred following their shocking ouster from the global event.

While Indo-Pak bilateral cricket isn’t ICC’s purview, the demand for a tri-series was summarily rejected. India haven’t played any tri-nation tournament for more than a decade now. However, the ICC might consider awarding the next men’s U19 World Cup to Bangladesh.

Earlier, Naqvi said a final decision on whether Pakistan will boycott the February 15 T20 World Cup clash against India in Colombo should be clear within the next 24 hours, as discussions with the ICC continue. He confirmed ongoing parleys also involve Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam Bulbul, with the PCB awaiting responses on several issues it has raised.

“We have had discussions with them. It would not be right for me to make any comments right now. Once we get their response, we will decide. We will go back to the PM (Shehbaz Sharif) for advice once the ICC replies,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by the PTI.

“An announcement will come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” he added.

“We respect our guests, and ICC came to our house, so we respected them. At this point in time, we cannot say much as negotiations between the ICC and Bangladesh are ongoing. Bangladesh’s stance was valid, so we had to back them.”

He also dismissed fears of sanctions, saying, “You know we are not ones to be afraid of these threats at all. Everyone knows our Field Marshall (Asim Munir). We are not worried about any sanctions.”