ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake spoke on Monday, discussing the upcoming Pakistan-India T20 World Cup match.
Dissanayake encouraged Pakistan to participate in the highly anticipated game set in Sri Lanka, highlighting Pakistan’s unwavering support for Sri Lankan cricket during tough times, particularly amidst security threats.
Shehbaz acknowledged the bond between the two nations, recalling Sri Lanka’s solidarity with Pakistan during its challenges, including recent tours that pleased Pakistani fans.
He assured Dissanayake that Pakistan’s decision on the match would follow top-level consultations.
The Pakistan-India match remains uncertain after Pakistan announced a boycott of the February 15 game to protest Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament. Bangladesh had sought to relocate its games from India over security worries, but the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland instead, sparking criticism from Pakistan.
The PCB is in talks with the ICC, with Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja mediating. A final decision on the match, a high-profile fixture crucial to the tournament’s commercial success, will depend on governmental discussions as negotiations continue.
