NEW DELHI: There is still no confirmation from Pakistan regarding their participation in the T20 World Cup scheduled to begin on February 7, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board having already arranged the squad's departure for Colombo on February 2.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif has weighed in on the issue, stating that Pakistan have already wasted a significant amount of time in deciding on their participation. He added that while withdrawing from the tournament altogether would be difficult, there remains a possibility that Pakistan could opt not to play against India even if the two sides were to meet in the final.
There has been speculation in sections of the media that Pakistan could pull out of the tournament or refuse to play India on February 15. PCB had shown its full support to Bangladesh Cricket Board over their "security concerns" in playing in India.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said earlier this week, after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, that a final decision would be taken by February 2 in view of the evolving situation following Bangladesh's exit from the competition.
"If the government says we won't play against India, the ICC will have to accept it," Latif said. "If they don't, that's where the real confrontation begins."
When asked about the scenario of India and Pakistan reaching the final, Latif offered a blunt assessment: "Nahi khelenge" (we won't play).
Latif said that if Pakistan were to withdraw, they should have done so immediately after the ICC rejected Bangladesh's request to shift their matches from India to Sri Lanka and replaced them with Scotland.
Speaking on the YouTube channel Caught Behind, he said: "The time for a strike has passed. Every decision has a timing. You should strike while the iron is hot. That time was last week during the ICC meeting."
"We showed our support. We voted for them. That chapter is over. If we boycott now, it won't have the same impact," he added.
