Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has stepped in to mediate. They aim to resolve the uncertainty surrounding the most attractive match of the T20 World Cup between India and Pakistan. SLC President Shammi Silva has sent a special letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). In this letter, he requested the PCB not to boycott the match against India.
A Reminder of Historic Friendship
In the letter, Shammi Silva reminded the PCB of the deep, long-standing relationship between the two nations. He specifically recalled the difficult times following the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore. At that time, Pakistan was isolated in the world of international cricket.
However, Sri Lanka ignored all risks. They were the first to tour Pakistan and stand by their side during those dark days. Citing this historic friendship, the SLC has urged the PCB to reconsider their decision to boycott.
Financial Loss and Tourism Concerns
The Sri Lankan Board President also issued a warning. He noted that the India-Pakistan rivalry is not just a game on the field. In fact, it is one of the biggest sources of revenue for world cricket.
If this high-voltage match is cancelled, the cricketing world will lose a massive amount of revenue from broadcasting rights and sponsorships. Consequently, this will have a negative impact on Pakistan’s economy as well.
Moreover, there is a potential for significant earnings in the tourism sector for co-host Sri Lanka. The match is scheduled for February 15. All tickets for the game have already been sold out. Therefore, if the match is cancelled amidst such high interest, Colombo will face a major financial loss.
The Bangladesh Issue in the Background
According to sources, the Pakistan government threatened not to play against India for a specific reason. This was mainly in protest of Bangladesh being excluded from the World Cup. Although, the PCB has not made any official announcement regarding this yet.
Nevertheless, the SLC remains hopeful. They believe that Pakistan will eventually soften its stance for the greater good of the game and the emotions of millions of fans. Now, it remains to be seen what decision the PCB takes after receiving this emotional letter.