Pakistan set to fly to T20 World Cup amid boycott speculation on THIS date

After a week of speculation and uncertainty, the Salman Ali Agha-led Pakistan men’s cricket team is set to fly out to Colombo for the T20 World Cup on February 2. The drama began after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) hinted at a possible boycott of the marquee tournament in solidarity with Bangladesh, who had withdrawn over security concerns about playing in India.

According to a PTI report, the PCB has already finalized travel arrangements for the squad to leave early on February 2, effectively ruling out any withdrawal from the tournament or the highly anticipated clash against India on February 15.

Even after announcing their T20 World Cup squad last week, questions lingered over Pakistan’s participation. “The PCB has already made travel arrangements for the World Cup squad to leave early morning on February 2 for Colombo,” a source told PTI.

While the PCB had expressed support for Bangladesh regarding their security concerns, the board could not take any further action without risking its standing within the International Cricket Council (ICC). Adding to this, a tripartite agreement between the BCCI, PCB, and ICC ensures that all India-Pakistan matches in ICC events until 2027 are held at neutral venues.

“Keep in mind, Pakistan’s entire World Cup schedule is in Sri Lanka, including the final if they qualify. So on what grounds could they boycott the tournament or the match against India?” the source asked.

The PCB is expected to officially confirm its participation on Friday, but insiders have dismissed ongoing media speculation as rumours. “When the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, he made it clear that all options under consideration should ensure a stable and prosperous future for Pakistan cricket and maintain good relations with the ICC and member boards,” the insider added.

With travel plans now set, Pakistan appear focused on putting the off-field drama aside and preparing for the T20 World Cup, where they’ll face a challenging road in Sri Lanka before the high-profile India encounter.