Citing the significant costs it would cause to all parties involved in the T20 World Cup, co-host Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) encouraged its Pakistani counterpart, PCB, to reevaluate its decision to boycott the crucial India-Pakistan match in Colombo on February 15.
In support of Bangladesh, which withdrew from the T20 World Cup due to security fears in India despite the International Cricket Council’s low threat assessment, the Pakistani government declared a boycott of the major match against India.
Now that SLC has written a letter to PCB, the story may take a new turn. According to SLC officials who spoke with PTI, the organization’s executive committee agreed to write to the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday, pleading with the Pakistanis to reevaluate their contentious choice. On Thursday, the letter was finally dispatched.
SLC alerted the PCB in the letter of possible negative effects on tourism, such as flight and hotel cancellations and logistical supplier issues. Additionally, the SLC stated in the letter that it was prepared to host the sellout match at Premadasa Stadium.
SLC cautioned PCB that failing to participate in a major event of this kind would have far-reaching consequences, including significant financial risk, the loss of expected tourist inflows, and wider economic repercussions, according to Newswire.
“The correspondence also pointed out that Sri Lanka Cricket, together with the Government of Sri Lanka, is mindful of the wider impact a boycott could have, affecting not only Sri Lanka Cricket but a broad range of stakeholders involved in ensuring the successful conduct of the tournament,” the report added.
SLC also reminded the PCB in the letter of the part the PCB played in bringing Pakistan cricket out of international isolation by making several trips to the nation during “challenging and sensitive circumstances, including periods marked by serious security incidents, when other cricketing nations were hesitant to do so”.
It was a reference to the time after the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009, when teams ceased traveling Pakistan. According to the Sri Lanka news website, SLC stated that it anticipates a similar spirit of reciprocity, pointing out that Sri Lanka has given complete guarantees on security, impartiality, and professionalism for every game played there.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav made it known in a media interaction on Thursday that his team would be traveling to Colombo for the match against Pakistan. Salman Agha, the captain of Pakistan, stated in a different interaction that his squad will follow government orders.
Losses of USD 250 million could result from the ICC event’s lack of an India-Pakistan competition.
