Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha on Monday said the players will comply with any directive issued by the government or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the proposed boycott of the India clash at the T20 World Cup, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
Speaking to the media before departing from Lahore to Colombo, Salman revealed that the team was informed of the decision by the team management on Sunday, shortly after their match against Australia.
“We are players contracted to the Board, and whatever decision our government and the Board have taken, all the players are on board with it,” Salman said.
The Pakistan skipper stressed that the T20 World Cup is bigger than just one fixture and that the team’s focus remains on performing strongly in the tournament.
“We have three other group matches. Our aim is to win all of them and qualify for the next round,” he added.
Several former Pakistan captains and players have backed the decision, including Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Yousuf, Rashid Latif, Moin Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mohsin Khan.
Latif said the decision was long overdue, citing the ICC’s recent handling of Bangladesh and its relationship with the BCCI. Afridi admitted he was disappointed about missing an India clash but said he understood the reasons behind the move, despite believing sports and politics should remain separate. Moin Khan said the onus is now on the ICC to act in the broader interests of world cricket, while Sarfaraz Ahmed said he could understand the PCB’s position.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan squad has departed for Sri Lanka, where they will begin their T20 World Cup campaign on February 7. A senior PCB source indicated that the board would again follow government instructions if a potential India vs Pakistan clash arises during the knockout stages.
