On Friday, Pakistan's captain Salman Ali Agha firmly stated that his team would steer clear of the external commotion surrounding the match boycott against India, dedicating their energy instead to securing victories in their remaining group games to advance to the Super 8s in the T20 World Cup.
Notably, Pakistan achieved its first and only T20 World Cup title in 2009. This season, they've opted for a match boycott against India; however, they're committed to competing in the remaining tournament matches.
What Captain Salman Agha Has to Say
Amid the boycott discussions, Captain Salman commented on moving forward with the tournament, 'We are ignoring it and pushing ahead. Our team refrains from discussing or focusing on such matters. In my opinion, that's the best approach. We should avoid getting entangled in these distractions and concentrate solely on our game.'
Last September, the Indian cricket teams adopted a stance of not shaking hands with Pakistan teams in international matches as an act of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attacks. Salman remarked, 'We are not hurt by it. However, it's not favorable for cricket. Such events should not happen. When I was a child, players always did what was necessary to uplift the game. We are role models to some extent. If we behave in such a manner, children will learn the same and replicate it in the future. Thus, I believe these things shouldn't occur.'
Without Playing Against India, What's Next for Pakistan?
Boycotting the match against India implies Pakistan will forfeit those 2 valuable points. Therefore, to ensure entry into the Super 8s, the team must clinch victories in the other three group matches against the Netherlands, USA, and Namibia.
