Pakistan has defended its decision to go ahead with the high-profile T20 World Cup clash against India after initially signalling a boycott, describing the move as an effort to keep politics out of cricket. The country’s Foreign Office said the decision reflected “magnanimity” and a commitment not to allow the sport to be “weaponised.”
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said cricket should remain a unifying game and expressed regret over what he called attempts to politicise sporting events. The statement followed a brief standoff involving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), after Pakistan had earlier indicated it might withdraw from the match over concerns related to Bangladesh’s exit from the tournament.
According to officials, Pakistan’s eventual participation came after consultations and international engagement aimed at easing tensions and ensuring the tournament proceeded smoothly. The episode has once again highlighted the fragile intersection between sport and diplomacy, particularly in high-stakes India-Pakistan encounters that attract global attention.
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