Ashwin dismisses Pakistan’s boycott threat
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has played down Pakistan’s threat to skip its high-voltage T20 World Cup match against India, expressing full confidence that the fixture will go ahead as scheduled. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said Pakistan would “100 per cent backtrack” within days, ensuring the much-anticipated clash on February 15 in Colombo takes place. Although the Pakistan government recently allowed the team to travel to Sri Lanka for the tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) simultaneously claimed it would not play against India, triggering widespread uncertainty.
ICC pressure and financial stakes
However, Ashwin believes the PCB has little room to sustain its stand. Shortly after Pakistan’s announcement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a strong warning, urging the board to consider the long-term consequences of refusing to play India. According to Ashwin, broadcasters and ICC member boards will not tolerate the financial losses caused by such a decision. He pointed out that television rights and sponsorship revenues depend heavily on the India-Pakistan fixture, making compromise inevitable. As a result, Ashwin feels economic realities will force Pakistan to reconsider its position sooner rather than later.
‘Refusing one opponent is not acceptable’
Furthermore, Ashwin criticised the logic behind singling out one opponent in a global tournament. Since India and Pakistan are set to play at a neutral venue, venue-related concerns do not apply, he argued. Calling the stance “not acceptable,” Ashwin urged the PCB to let better sense prevail. He stressed that cricket’s global ecosystem relies on cooperation and mutual responsibility, especially in marquee tournaments like the T20 World Cup. In his view, walking away from one match could damage Pakistan’s standing within the ICC and isolate the board diplomatically.
Group dynamics and Pakistan’s on-field potential
Meanwhile, both India and Pakistan find themselves in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA. The two teams will start their campaigns on February 7 and feature in warm-up matches on February 4. Despite the off-field controversy, Ashwin warned fans not to underestimate Pakistan’s on-field strength. He highlighted their recent 3-0 series win over Australia and noted that mindset remains their biggest challenge. “Pakistan’s biggest enemy is itself,” Ashwin said, adding that pressure often defines their performances in crunch moments.
