Pakistans Prime Minister Sharif calls for boycott of India at T20 World Cup

Pakistan to Boycott Cricket Match Against India at ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that Pakistan will not participate in its scheduled match against India at the upcoming ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup. The decision was made after careful consideration and is intended as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh.

The Pakistani government announced the boycott on Sunday, without providing an explanation for the move. However, it was widely believed to be related to Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament due to its refusal to travel to India for T20 World Cup fixtures. Sharif’s statement has since confirmed this motivation, stating that Pakistan will not play the match against India.

Sharif emphasized that Pakistan views cricket as a sport and believes there should be no politics involved in it. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a statement expressing concerns about the boycott, citing its potential impact on the global game and fans worldwide. The ICC is awaiting official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding further sanctions or bans.

The T20 World Cup is set to begin on Saturday, with India and Pakistan scheduled to meet in a highly anticipated match. The PCB’s decision to boycott the match may result in forfeiting two points, but its long-term implications for cricket in Pakistan remain unclear.

Source: Al Jazeera