Will Pakistan come out to play should they encounter India in the semi-Final or Final of the T20 world cup? This is the real question when Captain Salman Agha unleashed the backup plan of the team to play a high stakes knockout game with their arch-rivals.
With the tournament already marred by political tensions and Pakistan’s refusal to play the group stage fixture against India, the skipper clarified that any decision regarding a knockout match lies strictly with Islamabad.
Government’s Advice for T20 World Cup
In an interview with journalists in Colombo, Salman Agha pointed out that the cricket team is acting under state directives. Although the no-show of the group stage game on February 15 is a fact, a possible semi-final or final confrontation is still unknown.
“The India match is not in our control. It was a government decision,” Agha stated. “If we reach the semi-final or final and are scheduled to play India, we will consult the government again and follow their advice.”
Pakistan’s principled stance comes at a heavy sporting cost. By forfeiting the group match, the “Men in Green” will lose two vital points and suffer a hit to their Net Run Rate (NRR). This leaves them with a razor-thin margin for error against group opponents Namibia, Netherlands, and the USA.
Agha acknowledged the pressure: “We understand the margin for error is very small. But we can’t control the weather. We are focused on playing good cricket.”
Bangladesh Removed from T20 World Cup
The tournament environment is already stoked after the withdrawal of Bangladesh in the tournament, who was replaced with Scotland, as they declined to visit India. Agha showed an attitude of sympathy towards the Bengali side as he said, “It is a shame that Bengalia are not present here… We hope they will support us.”
Even after the off-field drama, Pakistan is enjoying the wave of confidence. The team has just been victorious in a 3 series whitewash over Australia and at home in Sri Lanka.“It feels like a second home. This is my sixth visit,” Agha said, signaling that while the politics are complicated, the team’s mission remains simple: win the World Cup.
