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Madan Lal: T20 WC Final More Crucial Than India-Pakistan Clash

Former Indian all-rounder Madan Lal has downplayed the hype around the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash, stating the tournament final is the most important match. He criticized the Pakistan government's earlier decision to boycott the fixture, calling it a petty move that would have only harmed Pakistan financially. Lal emphasized that while the rivalry generates high viewership and tension, it should be treated as a game. He also cautioned that predicting a favorite in T20 cricket is difficult.

Key Points: Madan Lal: Final, Not India-Pakistan, is Key Match

  • Final holds greater significance than rivalry match
  • Criticizes Pakistan's initial boycott threat
  • Highlights financial risks for Pakistan
  • Calls for focusing on the game, not politics
3 min read

T20 WC: "The final is most important match, not India vs Pakistan," says Madan Lal

Former cricketer Madan Lal says the T20 World Cup final is more important than the India-Pakistan match, criticizing Pakistan's earlier boycott stance.

"The most important match is the final one, not India vs Pakistan. - Madan Lal"

New Delhi, February 14

Ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, former Indian all-rounder Madan Lal said on Saturday that the contest is no longer the "most important" match, asserting that the final of the tournament carries greater significance.

The much-anticipated India-Pakistan encounter is set to take place in Colombo on Sunday after the Pakistan government ended its earlier decision to boycott the fixture following deliberations led by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Speaking to ANI, Madan Lal said that while the India-Pakistan clash generates massive viewership and emotional reactions, the ultimate goal remains winning the tournament.

"The most important match is the final one, not India vs Pakistan. It used to be a crucial match earlier, but now you just play it and try to win. Though it has a very high viewership, our relationship with Pakistan has not been good since 1947, making it a more tense match. Here, we take it as a game; do not start abusing our players and breaking our televisions. But Pakistan takes the game a little too much to their heart," he said.

The all-rounder cautioned that a "favourite" cannot be predicted in T20 cricket and slammed the Pakistan government for their earlier stance of boycotting the clash, questioning whether they were trying to showcase their petty side to India, and that the loss would have been entirely for Pakistan if they had gone ahead with their boycott.

"If they did not want to play, they could have denied the entire tournament... This would have only harmed Pakistan financially, because if the ICC bans them or does not allow them to play cricket, would they be able to pay their players? It would not have affected us all. You should look at your own country. Why were their Prime Minister and Mohsin Naqvi getting too involved and saying that they would not play? India does not have any problems, we want to improve ourselves, instead of showcasing pettiness to others," he added.

Squads: India Squad: Ishan Kishan(w), Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Abhishek Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar Pakistan Squad: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan(w), Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq, Fakhar Zaman, Naseem Shah, Salman Mirza, Khawaja Nafay.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan living in Delhi, I get the hype, but the final is what truly matters. Good to see a veteran keeping perspective. The political drama from Pakistan's side is unnecessary.
A
Ananya R
While I agree the final is most important, let's be honest, beating Pakistan feels *special*. The atmosphere is electric! But yes, no need for fans to break TVs. It's just a game, guys.
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Vikram M
Respectfully, I think Madan Lal is downplaying it a bit too much. For the average Indian fan, this *is* the most important match emotionally. The final is for the trophy, but this is for pride.
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Karthik V
Spot on about Pakistan's petty politics. First they boycott, then they play. Focus on your cricket, not drama. India's squad looks strong! Jai Hind!
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Priya S
True, the final is the ultimate goal. But winning against Pakistan gives the team massive confidence boost for the rest of the tournament. Both are important in their own way!

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