In a surprising turn amid threats of boycott, Pakistan’s cricket squad has secured travel arrangements to Colombo for the T20 World Cup, departing Monday with Australia’s team via Air Lanka from Lahore. This development, shared with Telecom Asia Sport by insiders, underscores the PCB’s tentative commitment despite ongoing deliberations.
PCB head Mohsin Naqvi, who had voiced concerns over the ICC’s dismissal of Bangladesh’s venue shift plea citing security issues in India, is slated to finalize the participation decision by the end of the week. The tournament kicks off February 7 and runs through March 8.
Naqvi’s high-level engagements included a key meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif, who backed the PCB’s pro-Bangladesh position but urged participation to safeguard financial interests. Additional inputs were sought from President Zardari, military officials, and ex-PCB leaders Sethi and Raja, who pushed for showing up in Sri Lanka and playing all fixtures, including against India.
Parallel to this, Pakistan hosts Australia for three T20Is from Thursday in Lahore. Team members are buzzing with cautious positivity, directed to stay prepared for World Cup action. Notably, players from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have brought full kits, bracing for a prolonged stint overseas.
This saga highlights the delicate balance between geopolitical cricket tensions and sporting obligations, with Naqvi’s clarity pivotal for the event’s smooth sailing.
