Despite boycott talks, Pakistan booked to fly out for T20 WC: report

Despite talks of Pakistan boycotting the upcoming T20 World Cup, set to be held in Sri Lanka and India from February 7 to March 8, reports have emerged that the team has already booked flights to Colombo for the marquee event.

“Despite the uncertainty over participation in the World Cup, the Pakistan team is booked with the Australian team to fly to Colombo via an Air Lanka flight from Lahore,” sources were quoted as saying by Telecom Asia Sport.

The Australian team is currently in Lahore for a three-match T20I series, which begins today. The final match of the series is scheduled to be played on February 1.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Mohsin Naqvi had earlier cast doubt over Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup, accusing the International Cricket Council (ICC) of having “double standards” and saying it had treated Bangladesh “unfairly” by excluding the team from the T20 World Cup.

Naqvi met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week and conveyed that a final call on Pakistan’s participation will be made tomorrow or next Monday. Telecom Asia Sport reported that while the prime minister supported Pakistan’s stance of backing Bangladesh, he also advised against boycotting the tournament.

“Naqvi also took advice from President Asif Zardari and the military establishment before meeting former PCB chiefs Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja,” sources were quoted as saying by Telecom Asia Sport. The report also claimed that both former PCB chiefs supported sending the team to Sri Lanka, where Pakistan are scheduled to play all their World Cup matches, and “also advised not to boycott the India game”.

Pakistan are set to face India in a group-stage clash on February 15 in Colombo.