Lahore: Two senior International Cricket Council (ICC) officials are heading to Lahore on Sunday to continue negotiations with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over Pakistan’s decision to boycott its high-profile group-stage match against India in the T20 World Cup, sources told NDTV.

The officials are expected to reach Lahore by 4 pm Pakistan Standard Time (4:30 pm IST). Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul is already in the city, and is scheduled to attend crucial meetings with PCB officials, NDTV reported. 

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According to the report, the BCB and PCB are set to hold talks later in the day, following which another round of discussions with the ICC is likely. The outcome of these meetings is expected to determine the next course of action regarding the India-Pakistan clash.

Pakistan’s decision to boycott the match came after the Pakistan government posted on X that the Pakistan team “shall not take the field” against India, without providing any reason. The match is scheduled for February 15 in Sri Lanka.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated the government’s stand on Wednesday. Quoted by Dawn, Sharif said the country had taken a “clear stand” on the match and added that “there should be no politics in sports”.

The government’s decision followed controversy over Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament. Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland just days before the event after their request to relocate matches outside India was not accepted by the ICC. The BCB had sought relocation after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on instructions from the BCCI, citing atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.