Former Indian all-rounder Madan Lal has opined that Pakistan are damaging their own cricket after they have threatened to boycott the match against India. While the Pakistan government has given permission to the team to travel to Sri Lanka, they said the side will not take the field against India.

India and Pakistan were once again placed in the same group by the ICC and they were all set to lock horns against each other on 15th February at Colombo.

Lal reckons Pakistan is not thinking right at the moment as they will need to suffer the repercussions.

“I think the Pakistan government or PCB, they are all damaging their own cricket. It’s not going to solve their problems. Someone has to be there to think right. They are not thinking right at the moment. They want to support Bangladesh. You keep on supporting Bangladesh. That’s not our business. At the end of the day, Bangladesh is going to suffer, and Pakistan is going to suffer… The main thing is New Zealand, England, South Africa, Australia, they are the biggest countries for cricket, they’re going to get the crowds, they’re going to get all the sponsorship,” Madan Lal told ANI.

On the other hand, ICC has asked the PCB to once again consider their decision to boycott the match against India.

“While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan,” ICC’s statement read.

“The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of,” the statement continued.

India will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on February 7.