Pakistan is considering its participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup following the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to exclude Bangladesh and include Scotland in the tournament. Opinions on the matter remain divided.
The exclusion of Bangladesh, largely driven by India’s stance, has prompted discussions within Pakistan on whether to boycott the event. However, two former PCB chairmen have expressed differing views on the issue.
Lieutenant General (R) Tauqir Zia advised against a boycott. Speaking to the foreign media, he said that no other board objected to the ICC’s decision and the council approved it unanimously. “Pakistan should clarify its position rather than prolong the matter,” he added.
Zia emphasized that while Pakistan’s principled stance is undisputed, the country is an important member of international cricket and broadcasting rights for the Pakistan-India match are also at stake. He noted that the PCB has left the final decision to the government, which will need to weigh the move against its relations with India.
In contrast, former chairman Khalid Mahmood urged the PCB to stick to its principled position. He called for another emergency ICC meeting and said it was important to make other members understand that India consistently brings politics into the game. Mahmood highlighted instances where Indian players refused to shake hands, declined to receive trophies, or refused to play in other countries. He questioned why Bangladesh was forced to play in India while ICC never compelled teams to visit Pakistan for security reasons. He insisted that the PCB should not back down even if it costs millions of dollars, saying the world respects principles more than money.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced that a final decision on Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup will be made by Friday or Monday.
