Suryakumar Yadav's clear message as Pakistan threatens to boycott T20 World Cup match vs India: ‘We're ready to play'

Indian's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has said that his team is ready to play against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup Group Stage match scheduled for 15 February in Colombo, as per a report by news agency ANI.

“We didn't say ‘no’ to playing against Pakistan; they said ‘no’. ICC scheduled the match, and we are ready to play. Our tickets are booked, and we are going to Colombo after Delhi,” Yadav said, as per ANI.

If India travels to Colombo and the Pakistan team still refuses to play, India will be awarded the full two points for the match, while Pakistan's net run rate will be negatively affected, thus impacting their chances in the tournament going forward.

What BCCI said

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said that, regarding this impasse, it will go with whatever the International Cricket Council (ICC) decides.

BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla told ANI, “BCCI has nothing to say on this (on Shehbaz's statement). ICC has to decide on this, and whatever ICC says, we will go according to that decision...”

This comes after Sharif, on Wednesday, said while addressing his cabinet, “We have taken a clear stand regarding the T20 World Cup that we will not play the match against India,” adding, “There should be no politics in sports...We have taken this stand after deliberating on it carefully.” He also called it an “appropriate decision”.

ICC on Pak's boycott threat

The ICC has also responded to Pakistan's boycott threats, saying that Islamabad's decision not to play India in Colombo goes against the fundamental premise of a global sporting event.

“While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule,” the ICC press release read.

“While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan. The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country, as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of,” the release added.