Calling Pakistan’s boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India an “appropriate decision”, its Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that it was a "considered stance" to support Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s cricket team has been told by the government to skip the February 15 game in Colombo after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland for refusing to play their games in India on account of “security concerns”.
“We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won't play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field,” Sharif stated after a government meeting here. “We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision. We are with Bangladesh,” he added.
In response, Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul posted "Thank You, Pakistan" on his official Facebook page, while quoting Sharif's statement.
A livid ICC has warned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of serious consequences if it fails to show up for the high-profile match, which is a money magnet at the big event for sponsors, broadcasters and advertisers.
The world body is expecting the PCB to “consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is a member and beneficiary of”. Pakistan has reached Colombo for its other preliminary engagements, starting with a game against the Netherlands on Saturday.
The country's cricket board has already made it clear that it supports the government’s position and would go by its advice even if a rematch against India crops up during the knockout stage. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had stated that the decision to drop Bangladesh was not fair and their security concerns should have been addressed.
The ICC’s security assessment of Indian venues had placed the threat perception for Bangladesh in the low to moderate category. Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India for their share of matches came after their pacer Mustafizur Rahman was ousted from the IPL on the BCCI’s instructions.
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