Sri Lanka warns of losses if Pakistan skip India clash

The PCB will consult its government on Sri Lanka Cricket’s request to reconsider boycotting the India match in the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka warned of financial losses and image damage if the marquee clash on February 15 in Colombo is cancelled

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to consult its government again to decide on Sri Lanka Cricket’s request to reconsider the boycott of the match against India in the T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo.

The Pakistan government has allowed the PCB to send the national team to the T20 World Cup but stopped it from playing against India, which is commercially the biggest match for the ICC and its broadcasters.

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This led Sri Lanka Cricket to send an email to PCB, saying that not having the February 15 marquee match between the arch-rivals will cause financial losses to SLC and also hurt the organisation and image of the tournament in the island nation, which is jointly hosting the event with India.

Pakistan is playing all its games in Colombo and Pallekele, starting with their match against Netherlands on Saturday.

“Obviously Pakistan has always enjoyed very close and friendly ties with Sri Lanka at the government-to-government and cricket level. So the mail from their Board can’t be ignored just like that,” a source aware of the developments said on Saturday.

“Mohsin Naqvi has been contacted directly by Sri Lanka Board President Shammi Silva and reminded that at this time Sri Lanka needs Pakistan to step up for them. Without Pakistan and India matches, the Sri Lanka Board would lose extra revenues from gate money, hospitality sales etc,” the source added.

The source said Naqvi assured his counterpart that he would consult the government and get back to him. He also clarified that media reports claiming Pakistan had rejected Sri Lanka’s request were not correct.

“PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has not even been in the country since yesterday and is due back today. He will bring the email to the notice of the Prime Minister on ending the boycott of the India match and then a decision would be made on the matter by Monday,” the source said.

He noted that as recently as last November, the Sri Lankan government had firmly stood with Pakistan when some of its players wanted to return home from a tour of Pakistan because of security concerns.

“Not only the Sri Lanka Board but the government directed the players to complete the white-ball tour.”