‘Don’t have the guts’ Ajinkya Rahane brutally trolls Pakistan amid boycott talks

Veteran India batter Ajinkya Rahane has waded into the growing debate around Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup, calling out the uncertainty and rubbishing talk of a potential boycott, especially of the high-voltage clash against India.

With the T20 World Cup set to begin on February 7, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to take a final call on its involvement. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after which he reiterated that “all options are on the table,” adding that a final decision would be taken either on Friday or next Monday.

The speculation intensified after reports suggested Pakistan may not withdraw from the tournament entirely but could skip the marquee India vs Pakistan match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.

However, Rahane isn’t buying into the threat.

“I don’t think they will do it. They don’t have the guts,” Rahane said during a discussion on Cricbuzz, dismissing the possibility of Pakistan boycotting such a massive fixture.

Pakistan’s stance stems from the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. Bangladesh, backed by its interim government, refused to travel to India for matches due to security concerns. While the PCB publicly supported Bangladesh’s position, insiders believe Pakistan cannot afford to take an extreme step without risking its standing with the ICC and other member boards.

Despite the noise, Pakistan has already named its 15-member squad for the 20-team tournament. Barring one change, the squad mirrors the team set to face Australia in the upcoming T20I series starting January 29, which will double up as their final preparation for the World Cup.

The bigger question now is political clearance. While cricketing preparations are in full swing, Pakistan still awaits an official green light from the government. Until then, uncertainty remains, but if Rahane’s words are anything to go by, few believe Pakistan will actually walk away from the biggest match of the tournament.