To make a decision on the Sri Lankan counterpart’s request to reevaluate the boycott of the match against India in the T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is anticipated to confer with its government once more.
The Pakistani government has permitted the PCB to send the national squad to the T20 World Cup, but has prevented them from competing against India, which is the match that the ICC and its broadcasters are most interested in commercially.
This prompted Sri Lanka Cricket to send an email to the PCB stating that the absence of the highly anticipated match between the bitter rivals on February 15 would result in financial losses for the SLC as well as harm to the tournament’s organization and reputation in the island nation, which is co-hosting the event with India.
All of Pakistan’s matches are being held in Pallekele and Colombo, beginning on Saturday with their encounter with the Netherlands.
“Obviously Pakistan has always enjoyed very close and friendly ties with Sri Lanka at the government to government and cricket level. So the mail from their Board can’t be ignored just like that,” PTI quoted a source, aware of the developments, as saying on Saturday.
“Mohsin Naqvi has been contacted directly by the Sri Lankan Board President Shammi Silva and been reminded that at this time Sri Lanka need Pakistan to step up for them as without Pakistan and India matches, the Sri Lankan Board would stand to lose extra revenues from gate money, hospitality sales etc,” the source added.
According to the source, Naqvi promised Shammi Silva, his counterpart, that he would check with the government and come back to him. According to him, media reports claiming that Pakistan had turned down Sri Lanka’s plea as well were untrue.
“PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has not even been in the country since yesterday and is due back today. He will bring the email to the notice of the Prime Minister on ending the boycott of the India match and then a decision would be made on the matter by Monday,” the source said.
He pointed out that when some of its players requested to go home from a tour of Pakistan due to security concerns, the Sri Lankan government had solidly supported Pakistan as recently as last November.
“Not only the Sri Lankan Board but the government directed the players to complete the white ball tour.”
