“Let’s get the politics out of it,” Lee, who ended his 13-year international career in 2012, said in ‘Mr. Cricket UAE’ podcast.

“I really hope the match happens. I really hope they get the opportunity, because it is going to be super exciting. The whole world watches when India and Pakistan play one another.”

The Pakistan government on Sunday cleared the team’s trip to Sri Lanka for the World Cup but announced boycotting the group stage game against India, which robbed the 20-team tournament of its most sought-after match.

“We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won’t play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

“We have taken a very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh, and I think this is a very appropriate decision.“

The Pakistan Cricket Board has not clarified what would be its stance should the team face India in the knockout stage of the tournament beginning on Saturday.

Geopolitical tension has marred the tournament’s buildup with Scotland replacing Bangladesh, who refused to play their matches in India, citing safety concerns.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) dismissed any such concerns. The game’s global governing body also rejected Bangladesh’s demands, backed by Pakistan, to play their matches in Sri Lanka instead.