Pakistan has protested the International Cricket Council’s decision to allow Scotland to play in the T20 World Cup instead of Bangladesh. Calling the move unfair, the Pakistan government decided to boycott its group-stage match against India as part of the protest. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed disappointment over Bangladesh’s exclusion, describing Bangladeshis as “brothers” and asking for their support during the tournament.

Speaking to media in Colombo, Salman said the decision to boycott India was made by the government, not the players. He added that if Pakistan faces India in the knockout stage, the team will consult the government again before deciding whether to play. Reflecting on the previous World Cup, Salman said Pakistan aims to correct past mistakes after losing to the United States.

By boycotting India, Pakistan will lose two points, which could hurt its net run rate. Salman acknowledged the challenge, noting that weather conditions are beyond their control and the team’s focus remains on playing good cricket.