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Karachi- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has voiced his support for the country’s decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India, citing it as an appropriate stance to back Bangladesh.
The government directed Pakistan’s cricket team to skip the February 15 game in Colombo after Bangladesh opted out of playing in India due to security concerns.
Sharif emphasized, “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.”
He further added, “We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh. I think this is a very appropriate decision. We are with Bangladesh.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has cautioned the Pakistan Cricket Board about potential repercussions if they fail to participate in the match against India.
Pakistan has arrived in Colombo for their other preliminary matches, commencing with a game against the Netherlands.
The Pakistan Cricket Board affirmed its support for the government’s position and pledged to adhere to its directives, even in the event of a rematch against India during the knockout stage.
Bangladesh’s decision to decline playing in India stemmed from the exclusion of their player, Mustafizur Rahman, from the IPL at the behest of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
