The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially communicated its decision to the International Cricket Council (ICC), explaining the reasons behind skipping the scheduled T20 World Cup match against India on February 15. Pakistan will, however, participate in the rest of the tournament.

This major decision followed a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. They discussed Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup and the specific decision to not play against India, taking into account the current situation and national priorities.

After the meeting, the government announced that Pakistan will compete in the T20 World Cup but will boycott the match against India. Government sources said the decision was made carefully, keeping national interest and current circumstances in mind.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated, “This decision has been made thoughtfully, Pakistan will not play the T20 World Cup group match against India.” He emphasized that politics should have no place in sports, saying, “Cricket is a game, not politics,” and sports must remain free from political disputes.

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The Prime Minister also suggested that Pakistan should align with Bangladesh on this matter, adding that a unified stance could help promote sports in the region.

Pakistan’s decision balances sports participation with political concerns. Skipping India’s match shows careful planning. Officials stress keeping cricket free from politics. Aligning with Bangladesh may strengthen regional sports cooperation. Fans will watch how this impacts tournament dynamics.