LAHORE: The fresh controversy surrounding the upcoming T20 World Cup has added a new layer of uncertainty to international cricket, as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi publicly questioned the treatment of Bangladesh by global cricket authorities.
In this reagrd, Naqvi said Bangladesh was being dealt with unfairly after refusing to travel to India for its scheduled T20 World Cup matches. He stressed that the South Asian nation should not be excluded from the tournament under any circumstances, calling it a “major stakeholder” in international cricket.
The issue surfaced earlier this month when Bangladesh announced it would not play its World Cup fixtures in India, citing security and political concerns. The decision followed the release of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman by his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise amid rising diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
In this case, Bangladesh formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate its matches to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC rejected the request, leading Bangladesh to stand firm on its decision not to travel to India.
This stance has effectively placed its participation in the tournament under serious doubt, while reports suggest that Scotland could be considered as a replacement a development that has raised eyebrows across the cricketing world.
Naqvi revealed that he had raised Pakistan’s concerns during an ICC board meeting, arguing that inconsistent standards were being applied. He pointed out that flexibility shown in other politically sensitive cricket arrangements was not being extended to Bangladesh.
“You cannot have double standards,” Naqvi said, focusing on that similar accommodations should be made if the ICC had previously adopted hybrid models for other member nations.
He maintained that no country should be allowed to dictate terms to another, particularly in matters involving international sport.
The PCB chairman clarified that Pakistan’s official position would align with the directives of the federal government. When asked about the possibility of Pakistan boycotting the tournament in solidarity, Naqvi said a final decision would be taken after consultations at the highest level, once the prime minister returns.
Naqvi hinted that Pakistan is prepared for multiple scenarios, suggesting contingency plans are already in place though he stopped short of revealing details. What happens next could redefine not only the tournament, but the way international cricket navigates political fault lines.
