Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has begun considering various protest options following Bangladesh’s exclusion from the ICC T20 World Cup, with the possibility of boycotting Pakistan’s match against India now under discussion.
According to sources, Pakistan may choose to boycott the February 15 match against India in Colombo as a form of protest. If Pakistan does not play the fixture, the team would face a two-point deduction, sources said.
Insiders revealed that the PCB has the option to refuse to play against India, a move that could result in significant financial losses for the ICC due to the high commercial value of the fixture.
Sources added that even if Pakistan decides to participate in the tournament, the board will keep all options open regarding the India match.
It is worth noting that Bangladesh had earlier refused to travel to India, citing security concerns, and requested the ICC to move all its matches to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request and instead included Scotland in the group, effectively removing Bangladesh from the tournament.
The development has sparked debate within cricketing circles, as Pakistan weighs its response amid growing concerns over fairness and tournament management.