Shehbaz defends India match boycott; Asif hails decision

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, defending the decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India, said on Wednesday that the move was taken in solidarity with Bangladesh, Pakistan’s English-language daily The Express Tribune reported.

“We have taken a clear stand regarding the T20 World Cup that we will not play the match against India,” Sharif said while addressing the cabinet.

“There should be no politics in sports,” he said. “We have taken this stand after deliberating on it carefully,” he said.

“We have taken a very considered stance and we should completely stand by Bangladesh and I think this is a very appropriate decision.” 

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Law and Sports Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, in a Facebook post on Thursday, thanked Pakistan for its position. Referring to Sharif’s statement, Nazrul said he believed the decision to boycott the match was “very appropriate.”