ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has announced that a final decision regarding Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup will be made in the next few days. Following a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Naqvi shared via social media that a definitive stance is expected by Friday or the coming Monday.
Key Developments from the Meeting
The Chairman briefed the Prime Minister on the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) matters. According to Naqvi, the Prime Minister has directed the board to resolve the issue after carefully weighing all available options. While official word is pending, sources suggest a decision to participate may have already been reached, though several protest strategies remain under consideration. These include a potential boycott of the mega-event in protest of Bangladesh’s exclusion, refusing to play specifically against India, wearing black armbands during matches, or dedicating tournament victories to Bangladeshi cricket fans.
The Bangladesh-ICC Conflict
The controversy stems from the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) refusal to send its team to India due to security concerns. This followed the removal of a Bangladeshi player from the IPL under the pretext of security issues. The BCB argued that if a host country cannot guarantee the safety of a single player, it cannot be trusted with an entire squad. In a move labeled as a “double standard” by critics, the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s stance and replaced them with Scotland for the tournament.
PCB Stands with BCB
Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has openly backed Bangladesh’s principled stance, stating that the Pakistan Cricket Board formally rejects the ICC’s inconsistent policies. He emphasized that Bangladesh’s position is based on principles and that Pakistan stands with them against selective security standards.
