India captain Suryakumar Yadav said his team will travel to Colombo as scheduled for the Twenty20 World Cup Group A match against Pakistan, even after Pakistan’s government ordered its team to boycott the fixture. The match is set for February 15, according to Reuters.
Yadav spoke to reporters at the captains’ pre-tournament press conference in Mumbai on February 5. He said India had not refused to play and had already arranged travel.
Pakistan India boycott and the decision from Islamabad
Pakistan’s government told the national team to skip the game against India, citing geopolitical tensions. Officials said the move aimed to show solidarity with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh did not tour India after raising safety concerns. Tournament organisers then replaced Bangladesh with Scotland.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha said the decision came from the government, not from the players. Speaking in Colombo, he said the squad would follow official instructions. He added the team would do the same if India and Pakistan met in a knockout match.
Group A pressure rises ahead of the Colombo fixture
The boycott increases the pressure on Pakistan in Group A. The tournament includes 20 teams, and only the top two sides from each group advance to the Super-8 stage.
Group A also includes Namibia, the Netherlands and the United States. The United States beat Pakistan at the 2024 tournament.
Salman said Pakistan had moved on from that result. He said the team would prepare for the remaining group matches as it does for any opponent.
India targets rare double as hosts
India entered the tournament as the top-ranked men’s T20 side. The team aims to defend the title, a feat no men’s team has achieved in the T20 World Cup.
India also want to become the first host nation to win the tournament. Yadav said the squad’s mindset remained focused on travelling and playing as scheduled.
Australia and England set out early tournament outlooks
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh played down the importance of Australia’s 3-0 series loss in Pakistan before the tournament. He said the team had time to prepare for its opening match.
Australia will miss Pat Cummins due to injury. Josh Hazlewood is also likely to miss the early games. Marsh said Australia had confidence in its bowling depth and would select the XI to suit conditions.
England captain Harry Brook said England felt confident as it chase a third T20 World Cup title. He said the team planned to take the tournament one match at a time.
The tournament schedule still lists the India-Pakistan game for February 15 in Colombo, while Pakistan’s participation remains subject to government direction.