Speaking at the ICC captains’ day event in Mumbai, Yadav sought to dispel speculation over India’s participation in the February 15 group clash. He said the Indian team had not refused to play and would follow the tournament plan finalised by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“Mindset is pretty clear. We haven’t said no to the game. The ICC has decided on a neutral venue. We are going to Colombo for sure,” Yadav said, adding that the team would play its preceding match on February 7 before heading to Sri Lanka. He underlined that decisions related to venues and participation rest with governing bodies and governments, not individual players.
The remarks come as controversy continues to surround Pakistan’s stance on the tournament following Bangladesh’s exclusion. The ICC had earlier replaced Bangladesh with Scotland after Dhaka sought a hybrid hosting model, citing security concerns for players and officials. The request was not accepted by the ICC board.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, speaking separately at the captains’ carnival in Colombo, expressed solidarity with Bangladesh and criticised their absence from the competition. “Bangladeshis are our brothers; we are grateful for their support for Pakistan. It’s a pity that they are not playing in the tournament,” Agha said.
The situation escalated after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly stated that his country would boycott its T20 World Cup match against India in protest against Bangladesh’s removal. Sharif said the decision was taken on principle, arguing that politics should not influence sport and that Pakistan should stand by Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul welcomed Sharif’s remarks, posting a brief message of thanks on social media. His response added to the diplomatic undertone that has begun to overshadow cricketing preparations ahead of the marquee event.
Despite the political exchanges, the ICC has maintained that the tournament schedule remains unchanged. India’s confirmation that it will travel to Colombo and honour its fixtures is expected to provide clarity for broadcasters, sponsors and fans, particularly ahead of one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
With just days to go before the next round of group games, attention is now likely to shift back to on-field preparations, even as off-field developments continue to test the boundaries between sport and diplomacy.
