Pakistan will seek advice from their government if they reach the knockout phase of the T20 World Cup and face arch-rivals India, captain Salman Agha stated on Thursday. The tournament has been marred by an acrimonious political buildup following Bangladesh’s expulsion and Pakistan’s refusal to play against co-hosts India in their Group A match.
The potential semi-final or final showdown between the uneasy South Asian neighbors remains a possibility. “India is not in our control; it was the government’s decision,” Agha told reporters in Colombo. Pakistan backed Bangladesh’s plea to move their matches from India, which resulted in Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland and ejected from Group C.
Pakistan lost two points for skipping their scheduled match against India but may face additional penalties if they lose another game due to adverse weather conditions, potentially complicating their qualification prospects. “We’re excited about this tournament; we lost to USA last World Cup and want to make amends,” Agha said.
Pakistan, the 2009 champions, enter the event after a 3-0 victory over Australia at home. Captain Salman Agha highlighted Pakistan’s strong run of form: “We’ve been playing excellent cricket. We haven’t lost a series since last year’s Asia Cup; we’re confident of doing well.”
Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, a location familiar to the team from recent tours. “It’s a second home for me; I’ve visited six times and enjoy good support,” Agha concluded.