Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has urged Pakistan to reconsider its decision to boycott the scheduled T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo. Pakistan announced the boycott to express solidarity with Bangladesh, which was excluded from the tournament after refusing to play matches in India.
SLC warned that Pakistan’s non-participation could have serious financial consequences for the host nation and negatively impact Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, which is still recovering from the 2022 economic crisis. The board emphasised that such a move could lead to significant financial losses and reduced visitor arrivals during the tournament.
Highlighting the long-standing relationship between the two cricket boards, SLC reminded Pakistan that Sri Lanka had toured Pakistan in the past to help revive international cricket there during a period when many other teams declined due to security concerns. The board appealed to Pakistan to consider the broader interests of the sport and maintain its commitment to the scheduled fixture.
Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for over a decade and meet only during international tournaments. While Pakistan has decided not to participate in the group-stage match against India, the two teams could still face each other in the knockout rounds, subject to further consultations with the Pakistani government if such a scenario arises.
