Pakistan will not independently decide on playing India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, captain Salman Ali Agha said, stressing that any such decision must come from the government.
Speaking in Colombo, Agha confirmed that while the team remains focused on cricket, fixtures involving India fall outside the players’ mandate.
“If we qualify for the semi-final or final and India is the opponent, the decision will be taken after consulting the government,” he said.
T20 World Cup Affected by Political Developments
The tournament has been impacted by diplomatic and security developments in the region. Bangladesh was excluded from the competition after declining to travel to India, leading the ICC to bring in Scotland as a replacement in Group C.
Pakistan had supported Bangladesh’s request to move matches to Sri Lanka. Although Pakistan’s government later cleared the team to participate in the World Cup, it instructed the side not to play the scheduled group-stage match against India on February 15.
Knockout Clash with India Still a Possibility
Despite missing the group-stage fixture, Pakistan and India could still face each other in the knockout rounds if both teams advance. The two sides have not played bilateral cricket for over a decade, meeting only in ICC events.
Agha described Bangladesh’s absence as unfortunate and acknowledged the impact of external factors on the competition.
Qualification Challenge in Group A
By forfeiting the India match, Pakistan will lose two points, increasing the difficulty of qualification from Group A. The decision could also affect the team’s net run rate, leaving little room for error in remaining matches.
Pakistan will play Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States in the group stage.
“We are aware of the pressure,” Agha said. “Our aim is to focus on the matches we can control and perform to our best.”
Pakistan Confident Ahead of Sri Lanka Matches
The 2009 T20 champions enter the tournament on the back of strong recent performances, including a 3–0 home series victory over Australia. Agha said the team’s confidence remains high.
All of Pakistan’s matches will be played in Sri Lanka, a venue the team knows well after touring the country earlier this year.
“Conditions here suit us,” Agha said. “We feel comfortable and well supported.”
