A decision to pull out of cricket’s most high-profile fixture due to geopolitical tensions may not lift the spirits of ordinary fans ahead of an event as big as the T20 World Cup, but in Pakistan the mood is strikingly upbeat. There have been no celebratory gunshots piercing the air, yet former players and fans alike are gung-ho about their government’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup match against India as a mark of protest. After keeping the cricketing world waiting for days, the Pakistan government announced on Sunday evening that the country would take part in the World Cup but would not allow its team to take the field against India in the February 15 game in...
