How will India reach the final?
The Indian team is currently on top in the T20 rankings and is the strongest contender for the title. India’s journey to the final can be like this, India will easily make it to the Super-8 by registering a big win against teams like Namibia, Netherlands and America in its group. In case of no match against Pakistan on 15th February, India will get 2 points without playing. Here India may face teams like Australia or England. Looking at the current form, India’s chances of being in the top-2 and reaching the semi-finals are more than 90%. On the strength of Indian spinners and in-form batsmen like Ishan Kishan, India can cross the semi-final hurdle and make it to the final to be held on March 8.
How will Pakistan reach the final?
After boycotting the match against India, the task will be very difficult for Pakistan, Pakistan will have already given 2 points to India for free. Now they will have to win all the other matches of their group by a big margin so that they can go to Super-8 on the basis of net run-rate. In Super-8, Pakistan will have to defeat teams like South Africa or New Zealand. If they win the semi-finals on the basis of their bowling, they will reach the finals.
Shahbaz Sharif’s threatening trap
This is where the real problem lies. If both India and Pakistan reach the finals, then the Pakistan government will have only two options.
- Boycott of the final too: India will become champion without playing. If the Pakistan government remains firm on its stand and refuses to play against India on March 8 like on February 15, then ICC will be left with no option. According to the rules, Pakistan will have to be disqualified or given a walkover and Team India will lift the World Cup trophy without playing the final match. This will be the most shameful moment in the history of Pakistan cricket.
- Playing the final: A joke of 15th February Boycott If Pakistan agrees to play against India in the final, then the question will arise in the whole world that if the final could have been played, then why did it not play the league match on 15th February? This will bring great disgrace to the Shehbaz Sharif government at the international level and it will be termed as a gimmick.
Fear of ruin of Pakistan cricket
This decision of Pakistan government can break the back of PCB. More than 50% of PCB’s earnings come from the shares it receives from ICC. ICC can compensate the loss of crores incurred by broadcasters due to cancellation of India-Pak match by deducting the amount from Pakistan’s share. The ICC can also suspend the membership of the PCB due to political interference, as happened recently with Sri Lanka Cricket. In order to humiliate India, Pakistan has placed itself in a position from where its defeat is certain. Either they will lose the match, or funds worth crores, or their remaining credibility.
