Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has described Bangladesh as a brotherly nation, expressing gratitude for their support ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.

Speaking at the captains press conference in Colombo before the start of the tournament, Salman Ali Agha said Pakistan appreciated Bangladesh’s backing.

He added that it was unfortunate Bangladesh would not be participating in the World Cup.

Responding to a question about a possible boycott of the match against India, the national captain stated that the decision rests with the government and the team would respect whatever decision is taken.

“We don’t know yet whether the match against India will take place or not. We will follow the government’s directives,” he said.

Salman termed Bangladesh’s absence from the tournament disappointing and reiterated Pakistan’s respect for their support.

Calling it his first T20 World Cup as captain, Salman said he was highly excited and hopeful that the team would perform well under his leadership.

He noted that Pakistan had been playing consistent cricket since the Asia Cup and had shown strong performances over the past six months.

He also praised Sri Lanka, calling it his second home, and said he always feels welcomed due to the hospitality and good manners of the people.