PCB To Consult Its Govt On Sri Lanka’s Request To Reconsider India Match Boycott

Karachi : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to consult its government again to decide on its Sri Lankan counterpart’s request to reconsider the boycott against India in the T20 World Cup to be held in Colombo on February 15. The Pakistan government allowed the PCB to send the national team to the T20 World Cup but prevented them from playing against India, the biggest match commercially for the ICC and its broadcasters.

This led Sri Lanka Cricket to email the PCB saying that not holding the crucial match between the arch-rivals on February 15 would cause financial losses in SLC and would also damage the organization and image of the tournament in the island nation, which co-hosts the show with India.

Pakistan is playing all its matches in Colombo and Pallekele, starting with the match against Netherlands on Saturday.

A source aware of the developments said on Saturday: “Obviously Pakistan has always had very close and friendly relations with Sri Lanka at government, government and cricket levels. So mail from the Board cannot be ignored like this.”

“Mohsin Naqvi was directly contacted by Sri Lankan Board Chairman Shammi Silva and he was reminded that now Sri Lanka needs Pakistan to step in for them because if there are no Pakistan and India matches, the Sri Lankan Board will lose extra income from gate money, accommodation sales etc,” the source said.

The source said Naqvi assured his counterpart Shammi Silva that he would consult the government and get back to him.

He said media reports that Pakistan also rejected Sri Lanka’s request were not true.

“PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has not even come to the country since yesterday and will return today. He will forward the email regarding ending the boycott of the India match to the Prime Minister and then a decision on the issue will be taken by Monday,” the source said.

He stated that as recently as last November, the Sri Lankan government stood firmly by Pakistan in case some of its players wanted to return home from a tour of Pakistan due to security concerns.

“Not only the Sri Lanka Board but the government also directed the players to complete the white-ball tour.”