Pakistan’s Participation in the IND vs PAK T20 World Cup clash scheduled to be played on February 15 is still uncertain following Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement, in which he reiterated the country’s decision to boycott the match in question.
IND vs PAK: The Decision
Sharif said while addressing the federal cabinet in Islamabad, as reported by Dawn. In the words of Shehbaz Sharif, “We have taken a clear stand regarding the T20 World Cup that we will not play the match against India.” He added that the decision was taken after careful assessment “There should be no politics in sports,” he said. “We have taken this stand after deliberating on it carefully.”
IND vs PAK: The Reaction
Earlier this week Government of Pakistan decided that the national team won’t take the field against India and conveyed the same through a post on its official X handle without stating any reason
Reacting to this, ICC also made a release mentioning clearly that selective participation from teams won’t be entertained. The release read, “While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule.”
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IND vs PAK: The Goal
The release further said that the ICC tournaments are built on integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit of the competition.
“While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan. The ICC hopes that the PCB will 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 itself a member and beneficiary of.”
IND vs PAK: The Responsibility
The release also mentioned that it is the responsibility of the ICC and all the member boards, including the PCB, to play their part in delivering a successful ICC Men’s T20 World Cup “It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders.”
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