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Pakistan Cricket Team
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday said Pakistan's decision to boycott their T20 World Cup match against India was aimed solely at securing "respect" for Bangladesh. Bangladesh were ousted from the tournament for refusing to play in India citing security concerns. Earlier this month, the Pakistan government said its national team would not take the field against India for their group game in the T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo. However, after negotiations between the PCB, Bangladesh Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council, the Pakistan government withdrew the boycott order late Monday night. "We did not discuss anything apart from Bangladesh, our only purpose was to get Bangladesh respect, to highlight the injustice done to them. And you saw that whatever demands Bangladesh made, they were accepted. That's it," Naqvi said. "We had no personal interest in the meeting ... our task was purely related to Bangladesh. The government made the decision on that ...
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Tuesday praised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for "finding a very good solution" that prompted Pakistan to withdraw its boycott of the T20 World Cup match against India. The high-profile India-Pakistan match on February 15 in Colombo will go ahead as scheduled after Pakistan's government, following persuasion from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, decided to withdraw its boycott call. "I would like to thank the ICC chairman (Jay Shah) and its office-bearers on behalf of the BCCI for finding a very good solution. After discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and after listening to all sides, this decision has been taken," Shukla told reporters. "This decision is very important for cricket. Cricket must go and the World Cup will now be a big success. This is a big achievement as far as ICC is concerned. Even Bangladesh Cricket Board has praised the ICC, so it has listened to all sides and arrived at the ...
Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for directing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to end the boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India here on February 15. The India-Pakistan match will go ahead as scheduled after Pakistan's government decided to withdraw its boycott call following persuasion from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, ending an impasse that cast a shadow on the ongoing tournament. "Delighted that the eagerly awaited India Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 cricket World Cup in Colombo will go ahead," Dissanayake said on X platform. Dissanayake had called Sharif Monday night to convince him to play the game following the Sri Lanka Cricket letter addressed to PCB to change its decision. Pakistan PM's office acknowledged Dissanayake's call in the government release which effectively ended the match boycott by his country. Pakistan had earlier said they would not play the India match, which was seen as a polit
All-rounder Faheem Ashraf admitted his heart rate was fluctuating during the fag end of Pakistan's nervy yet successful run chase against the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup opener here on Saturday, but said he was confident he "could take down whatever runs in one over". Ashraf emerged as Pakistan's hero, hammering an unbeaten 29 off just 11 balls, including two fours and three sixes, in a stunning late assault that sealed a dramatic three-wicket victory over the Netherlands. "We have been playing this brand of cricket for the past year. Heart rates go up and down, it's happened so many times before, we're used to it," the 32-year-old bowling all-rounder said at the post-match presentation. "Shaheen (Afridi) and I were talking about saving wickets, knew we could take down whatever in one over." Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi remained unseparated in a 34-run stand for the eighth wicket. Chasing 148 for a win, Pakistan were 90 for 2 at the halfway stage but lost wickets in a heap as th