Karachi, February 9 Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi is set to request his Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to withdraw the boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India after being asked to do so by his Bangladeshi counterpart, a PCB source has revealed.
Naqvi is scheduled to brief Sharif on the latest developments on the issue later on Monday. The match against India is scheduled to be held in Colombo on February 15.
"Naqvi will brief the PM on the communications he has had with the Bangladesh, Sri Lankan, and Emirates cricket boards, as well as the ICC, regarding the crisis," the source said.
Bangladesh Cricket Board President, Amin ul Islam, was in Lahore for the talks Naqvi had with Imran Khawaja, vice-chairman and independent director of the ICC, on Sunday.
Both the Sri Lankan and Emirates boards have urged the country to review its decision, and the PCB source confirmed that Islam, while appreciating the support Pakistan has shown for Bangladeshi cricket, also requested Naqvi to end the boycott.
He said that Naqvi is likely to ask the PM to permit the team to play India in the World Cup, given the discussions and appeals from the Sri Lankan, Emirates, and Bangladeshi boards.
However, the final decision rests with Sharif, and the PCB will abide by it.
The source said that during talks with Khawaja, Naqvi had raised a number of issues.
"He questioned Khawaja if the ICC had remained silent if the Pakistan team had refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from any Indian board official," the source said.
The trophy is currently locked at the headquarters of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Dubai, after Naqvi, who currently heads the body, made it clear that only he would carry out the presentation formalities under the full glare of the media.
Bangladesh were eliminated from the World Cup after refusing to play in India, citing security concerns.