Salman Ali Agha Reacts After Pakistan Government Boycotts India Match

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said the decision to skip the India match at the T20 World Cup was taken by the government, not the players.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha addressed the decision to skip the India match at the Men’s T20 World Cup on Sunday. The Pakistan government has cleared the team to compete in the 20-team tournament in India and Sri Lanka. However, it has directed Pakistan not to take the field against India on February 15 in Colombo.

Agha spoke shortly after the announcement, following the third and final T20I against Australia. He made it clear that the call did not come from the players. He said the squad would follow instructions issued by the government and the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“We are going to the World Cup. Humara decision nahi hai, hum kuch nahi kar sakte. (The decision not to play against India isn’t ours, so we cannot do anything about it.) Whatever our government, the PCB chief tells us to do, we will do that only,” the skipper said.

The final decision to boycott followed a meeting between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday evening. The decision became public around 8 PM IST.

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Soon after the confirmation, Pakistan revealed its official jersey for the T20 World Cup. The team has been placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA.

With the tournament less than a week away, the development has raised questions for organisers. Broadcasters are also expected to face heavy losses, given the commercial value of an India–Pakistan match. Pakistan will play all matches in Sri Lanka and start their campaign on February 7 against the Netherlands.