With Pak Vs Ind out of the question, Pakistan’s new arch rival takes center stage

COLOMBO: The highly anticipated Pakistan-India T20 World Cup clash will no longer take place after Pakistan refused to play the match. While ICC’s recent decision against Bangladesh became the reason for Pakistan’s boycott, now there is a new and unexpected adversary for the men in green.

The decision to boycott ends one of cricket’s most watched rivalries, which fans around the world traditionally mark as a highlight of the tournament. However, this also means Pakistan will be forfeiting two points making a hard battle even harder.

With the India fixture off the table, Pakistan is now set to face the Netherlands, the United States, and Namibia in their remaining group-stage matches. Cricket analysts say that while these teams are competitive, the intensity and global attention of a Pakistan-India showdown will be sorely missed.

However, the main archrival of team green is being said to be the weather in Colombo. Famous for being unpredictably wet, it could play a decisive role. The meteorological department has forecast rain for Pakistan’s opening match, raising concerns about possible interruptions. If rain affects multiple games, Pakistan could face difficulty advancing, particularly since they automatically lose points for not playing India.

Tournament experts insist that Pakistan’s path to the knockout stages will now depend on winning all three remaining matches and navigating the unpredictable weather. “The real opponent for Pakistan in this group may turn out to be the rain rather than any single team,” one analyst noted.

As fans adjust to the absence of the classic rivalry, all eyes will now be on Pakistan’s performances against the Netherlands, the United States, and Namibia – matches that have suddenly taken on greater importance in their World Cup campaign.