Pakistan may boycott T20 World Cup after Bangladesh’s exit, PCB awaits govt decision
PTC Web Desk: Pakistan could withdraw from the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup following Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) awaits the final decision from the country’s government. PCB chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi has strongly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing it of unfair and discriminatory treatment towards Bangladesh.
On Saturday, the ICC officially excluded Bangladesh from the World Cup, replacing them with Scotland, who will now compete in Group C and play all fixtures originally allotted to Bangladesh.
Speaking to The Dawn, Mohsin Naqvi alleged that the ICC’s decision was unjust and highlighted what he termed a clear case of double standards. “Bangladesh has been treated unfairly. I raised this issue during the ICC meeting as well. You cannot adopt different rules for different countries. One team is allowed to play at a venue of its choice, while another is threatened with removal,” Naqvi said.
"Pakistan fully supports Bangladesh’s stance and believes the team deserves to play the World Cup after qualifying on merit," he added.
“If neutral venues can be provided to Pakistan and India, then why not to Bangladesh? They earned their place through performance, and denying them participation is deeply unfair,” he said.
Naqvi confirmed that the PCB has approached the Pakistani government regarding the issue and will take a final call only after receiving official instructions.
“We are waiting for the Prime Minister to return. Only then will a decision be made on whether Pakistan will participate in the World Cup. After the ICC’s final ruling, we will evaluate all possible options,” he stated.
The controversy began after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) expressed concerns over the safety of its players in India, requesting that their World Cup matches be shifted to Sri Lanka. The ICC, however, stated that there were no security threats and instructed Bangladesh to play their fixtures in India.
When the BCB refused to comply, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with a European team, later confirmed as Scotland.
The situation escalated further following a controversy involving Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. During the IPL auction on December 16, Mustafizur was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 9.20 crore. Soon after, reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh triggered protests in India, with religious leaders and political groups opposing the inclusion of Bangladeshi players in the IPL.
Subsequently, the BCCI reportedly asked KKR to release Mustafizur, and the franchise dropped him from the squad on January 4. In response, the Bangladesh government imposed a ban on IPL broadcasts within the country.
Following these developments, the BCB reiterated its security concerns regarding India, which ultimately led to the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the World Cup.
- With inputs from agencies
