By Irum Saleem
Pakistan’s final decision — playing ICCT20 but not with India.
It would have been better if Pakistan defeats India on cricket ground.
One wonders if the national side is travelling to Sri Lanka to take part in World Cup but what stopping it from playing with India.
Pakistan’s opening match against the Netherlands is scheduled for Feb 7. Pakistan are due to face the US in their second Group ‘A’ match three days later before their blockbuster clash with arch-rivals India on Feb 15 which it had forfeited losing two important points to show solidarity with Bangladesh
It is that game on which the eyes of the world were to be fixed.
Bangladesh booted out of the tournament by the International Cricket Council after it refused to travel to India in the wake of strained political ties and security concerns. They were replaced by Scotland, which prompted a strong rebuke from Pakistan who have rightly accused the India-led ICC of double standards. Pakistan, who face Namibia in their final group fixture, will play all their matches in Sri Lanka as part of the arrangement with India following last year’s Champions Trophy drama where the latter country refused to play in Pakistan due to security concerns.
The Pakistani squad has already been announced, and the ongoing T20 series against Australia has confirmed that skipper Salman Ali Agha will bat at the crucial number three spot. It is a move that will hopefully give Pakistan stability and attacking impetus at the top of the order on the spin-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka. Pakistan have already showed their preparedness by clinching the series against Australia with a thumping 90-run victory on Saturday with Salman leading from the front with the bat before the spinners came to the fore.
” In supporting Bangladesh, Pakistan has taken a principled stance to ensure equality for all members of the ICC,” Dawn says.
