Pakistan PM confirms India match boycott at T20 World Cup

Pakistan Prime Minister has officially confirmed that Pakistan’s national cricket team will not play against India at the upcoming T20 World Cup. 

He said the decision was taken to show support for Bangladesh.

Speaking to cabinet members in on Wednesday, Sharif said politics should stay out of sports. 

He added that Pakistan made the decision after careful thought and believes it is right to stand with Bangladesh.

This is the first time the government has clearly explained the reason behind the boycott, which was first announced on social media last week.

The dispute began after the replaced with in the tournament. 

Bangladesh had refused to send its team to , citing security concerns.

The concerns followed threats from communal groups, after which Bangladeshi fast bowler was dropped from the Indian Premier League on January 3. 

The later asked for the match venue to be moved to , but the ICC rejected the request, calling the threats an isolated issue.

Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser said that neither the ICC nor the Indian government gave clear security guarantees.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman has backed Bangladesh and criticized the ICC for what he called double standards on security matters.

The , co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will begin on February 7. The India–Pakistan match was set for February 15 in .

The ICC has warned the to reconsider the boycott, saying it could have long-term effects on Pakistan cricket.