Online Reporter
The International Cricket Council is in talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board to resolve the boycott of its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, AFP learnt Saturday.
Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsor and advertising revenue.
But the fixture was thrown into doubt after Pakistan’s government ordered the team not to play the match in Colombo.
The Pakistan Cricket Board reached out to the ICC after a formal communication from the cricket’s world body, a source close to the developments told AFP.
The ICC was seeking a resolution through dialogue and not confrontation, the source added.
The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up after Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.
As a protest, Pakistan refused to face co-hosts India in their Group A fixture.
Pakistan, who edged out Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, will lose two points if they forfeit the match and also suffer a significant blow to their net run rate.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said this week that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash. Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments.
Meanwhile, A sparkling unbeaten 84 from India captain Suryakumar Yadav and three wickets from late call-up Mohammed Siraj in Mumbai on Saturday helped India to avoid a shock defeat to the United States as they opened their defence of the T20 World Cup.
India were in trouble at 77-6 before Suryakumar took them to a competitive 161-9 at a packed Wankhede stadium and won by 29 runs as the USA could only muster 132-8 in reply.
Chasing 162 for a massive upset, the Americans were quickly reduced to 13-3 as Siraj, only added to the squad 24 hours earlier as a replacement for the injured Harshit Rana, struck twice in his first two overs.A 58-run fourth wicket partnership between Milind Kumar (34) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) put the USA on course for a stunning win.
They were still in the hunt at 98-4 in the 16th over when spinner Axar Patel took two wickets in two balls to end their hopes.
Suryakumar paced his 49-ball innings brilliantly, shepherding the tail and smashing 10 fours and four sixes as India plundered 75 off the final six overs.Siraj, who had not played a T20 international since July 2024, celebrated his recall by taking a wicket with his fourth ball.USA opener Andries Gous had just hit Siraj for six but next ball could only find Tilak Varma who took a low catch.
Arshdeep Singh got in on the act at the other end, removing captain Monank Patel, who was caught by Shivam Dube off a leading edge.
That left the USA at 11-2 which became 13-3 when Siraj struck again to remove Saiteja Mukkamalla for two.Siraj finished with 3-29 after trapping Shubham Ranjane lbw with the final ball of the innings. — SuperSport.
