New Delhi: The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup is set to take place on February 15 after Pakistan reversed its earlier boycott stance following weeks of tension between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). The development has triggered strong reactions from political leaders and former cricketers in India.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh said Pakistan’s U-turn was inevitable. “I had said earlier that they would take a U-turn and agree to play because Pakistan cannot survive otherwise, whereas India is not dependent on anyone. I knew from the beginning that this would happen,” he remarked.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly welcomed the decision, saying sports and politics should remain separate. He said he was not aware of the government-level discussions but added that India-Pakistan matches are always exciting. Ganguly noted that India is currently a strong team and defeating them will not be easy, but hoped Pakistan performs well to make the contest competitive.
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla described the development as a positive outcome of ICC-led discussions. He praised the ICC for resolving the dispute and ensuring the match takes place, calling it a “win-win situation” for all stakeholders and a step toward making the World Cup a successful tournament.
However, political reactions were mixed. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the decision, saying India should have taken a clearer stand and refused to play Pakistan. She suggested Pakistan may have agreed due to financial pressure and argued that commercial interests appeared to outweigh principles.
Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal said it was good for cricket that Pakistan agreed to play, noting the tournament would have lost its charm otherwise. He also mentioned reports of pressure from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and added that India-Pakistan matches always carry high intensity and pressure for both teams.
Jammu and Kashmir Sports Minister Satish Sharma expressed opposition to India playing Pakistan, while Congress leader Imran Masood strongly criticised any cricketing ties with Pakistan, reiterating his opposition to matches since the Pulwama attack.
With the political and cricketing debate continuing, all eyes are now on February 15 as India and Pakistan prepare for one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament.
