Defying participation haze, Pakistan cricket has locked in Air Lanka flights from Lahore to Colombo for Monday, traveling with Australia ahead of the T20 World Cup. Insiders told Telecom Asia Sport that PCB’s Mohsin Naqvi eyes a Friday reveal on the team’s role in the February 7-March 8 spectacle.
Naqvi’s doubts stemmed from ICC snubbing Bangladesh’s security-driven shift request for Indian venues to Sri Lanka. Yet, momentum builds for attendance.
A pivotal Islamabad sit-down with PM Shehbaz Sharif yielded support for PCB’s Bangladesh stance but a firm nudge to join and dodge fiscal hits. Naqvi also tapped President Zardari, military brass, and ex-chairmen Sethi and Raja, who championed sending the side and honoring all games, India included.
Lahore hosts Australia for T20Is starting Thursday, with players coached to harbor World Cup hopes. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa contingent’s oversized baggage signals expectations of a lengthy foreign sojourn.
This unfolding drama pits alliance-building against lucrative play, hinging on Naqvi’s directive to steady the cricketing ship.