COLOMBO: Pakistan to Boycott India Match in T20 World Cup, But India Still Required to Travel to Sri Lanka
Despite Pakistan’s decision to boycott the match against India in the ICC T20 World Cup, the Indian cricket team will still be required to travel to Sri Lanka as per the original schedule.
On Sunday, Pakistan announced that it would participate in the T20 World Cup but would not play the scheduled match against India on 15 February.
Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which a key decision regarding participation in the World Cup was taken.
Following the meeting, the Government of Pakistan declared that Pakistan would play in the T20 World Cup but would not take the field against India.
According to government sources, the ICC’s biased decision regarding Bangladesh was a central factor. Pakistan wanted to show solidarity with Bangladesh in this matter.
The Pakistan–India match was originally scheduled for 15 February in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Why will India still have to go to Sri Lanka despite Pakistan’s boycott?
If Pakistan boycotts the match against India, it will forfeit 2 points, which will be awarded to India.
However, for India to receive these 2 points in the event of Pakistan’s boycott, the Indian team must strictly follow ICC protocol: they must be present at the venue on the scheduled date, carry out all preparations as per the timetable, and be present on the field waiting for the Pakistan team.
According to sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian team will comply with ICC protocol. On 15 February, they will carry out practice sessions in Sri Lanka as scheduled, hold the press conference, and arrive at the stadium on time.
Indian media reports state that, as per ICC rules, on the day of the match, if Pakistan is not present on the field, the Indian team will wait for the match referee to officially declare the match abandoned/forfeited.
Only after this official declaration will India be awarded the 2 points.
It is worth noting that the ICC T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on 7 February. In Pakistan’s group, besides India, the other teams are Namibia, Netherlands, and the United States.
