India will travel to Colombo for scheduled Pakistan game: Suryakumar

MUMBAI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav has confirmed that the Indian men’s T20 side will travel to Sri Lanka for their scheduled World Cup fixture against Pakistan, despite Pakistan’s announcement that it will boycott the match.

India and Pakistan are set to face each other in a high-profile Group match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo, a fixture widely regarded as the marquee contest of the tournament. However, Pakistan’s government has stated that the national team will not play against India, a decision that has added uncertainty to the tournament’s group-stage dynamics and prompted concern within the ICC.

Speaking at the captains’ pre-tournament press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, Suryakumar said India’s preparations and travel plans would remain unchanged.

“Our thinking is very clear,” Suryakumar said. “We will follow the schedule that has been given to us and travel to Colombo as planned.”

The India captain confirmed that the team’s travel arrangements were already in place. “Our flight is booked and we will be going to Sri Lanka according to schedule,” he said, adding that the team would adhere fully to tournament regulations and ICC protocols.

According to reports, if Pakistan fail to take the field, India could be awarded two points for the match. Under ICC regulations, however, India must be present at the venue at the stipulated time for the match referee to declare an official abandonment or forfeit.

Sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the Indian team would arrive in Colombo on February 15, take part in the scheduled training session, attend the pre-match press conference and report to the stadium at the appointed time.

Indian media reports said that under ICC rules, if Pakistan do not appear on the field at the scheduled start time, the match referee will formally call off the contest, after which India would be eligible to receive the points.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup gets underway on February 7. Pakistan have been drawn in a group alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the United States. The India-Pakistan fixture was expected to be the biggest match of the group stage and one of the tournament’s major attractions.