Cricket
oi-Ashish Rana
Uncertainty
continues
to
surround
Pakistan’s
participation
in
the
upcoming
T20
World
Cup,
even
after
the
national
squad
was
announced.
Team
T20
World
Cup
Pakistan’s
participation
in
the
upcoming
T20
World
Cup
is
uncertain,
with
the
government
expected
to
make
the
final
decision
due
to
concerns
over
the
International
Cricket
Council’s
handling
of
Bangladesh’s
exclusion
from
the
tournament.
The
Pakistan
Cricket
Board
is
also
considering
symbolic
protests
to
support
Bangladesh,
potentially
including
wearing
black
armbands
or
refusing
to
play
against
India
in
Colombo.
While
the
Pakistan
Cricket
Board
has
named
its
team,
the
final
call
is
expected
from
the
government
following
high-level
discussions.
Reports
suggest
Islamabad
is
weighing
a
complete
withdrawal
from
the
tournament,
citing
dissatisfaction
with
the
International
Cricket
Council’s
handling
of
Bangladesh’s
exclusion.
Bangladesh’s
Removal
Sparks
Fresh
Controversy
The
latest
tension
stems
from
the
ICC’s
decision
to
remove
Bangladesh
from
the
T20
World
Cup,
replacing
them
with
Scotland.
The
move
followed
prolonged
talks
with
the
Bangladesh
Cricket
Board,
which
had
refused
to
send
its
team
to
India,
pointing
to
security
concerns.
An
independent
assessment
later
concluded
that
security
risks
across
Indian
venues
were
minimal,
prompting
the
ICC
to
stick
to
its
original
plan.
Pakistan
emerged
as
the
only
ICC
member
to
publicly
back
Bangladesh’s
stance.
Officials
in
Islamabad
viewed
the
decision
as
unfair,
arguing
that
Bangladesh
was
penalised
despite
raising
concerns
similar
to
those
accommodated
for
other
teams
in
the
past.
Pakistan
Government
Set
to
Take
Final
Call
According
to
a
report
by
Geo
News,
the
Pakistan
government
may
instruct
the
PCB
to
pull
out
of
the
World
Cup
altogether.
This
is
despite
prior
arrangements
that
had
Pakistan
scheduled
to
play
all
their
matches
in
Sri
Lanka,
under
a
mutually
agreed
plan
involving
the
ICC
and
the
BCCI.
“The
final
decision
rests
with
the
prime
minister,
but
early
indications
suggest
that
the
government
may
not
allow
Pakistan
to
participate
in
the
T20
World
Cup,” a
senior
government
source
said.
“This
is
not
just
about
cricket;
it
is
about
principles.
Bangladesh
has
been
deprived
of
its
legitimate
right,
and
the
ICC’s
step-motherly
treatment
has
forced
Pakistan
to
seriously
rethink
its
participation.”
Allegations
of
Double
Standards
Against
ICC
The
same
source
questioned
what
was
described
as
inconsistency
in
how
the
ICC
applies
its
policies
across
member
nations.
“There
cannot
be
dual
standards
in
international
sports.
On
one
hand,
India
enjoys
the
liberty
to
choose
venues,
while
on
the
other,
countries
like
Bangladesh
are
denied
venue
changes
despite
citing
security
concerns.
If
the
ICC
truly
wants
cricket
to
thrive
as
a
global
sport,
such
selective
policies
must
end,”
the
source
added.
These
remarks
underline
the
political
sensitivity
surrounding
Pakistan’s
potential
participation,
with
officials
framing
the
issue
as
one
of
fairness
rather
than
competitive
advantage.
Symbolic
Protests
Also
Under
Consideration
Even
if
Pakistan
eventually
decides
to
take
part
in
the
tournament,
symbolic
actions
remain
on
the
table.
Reports
from
Samaa
TV
and
other
Pakistani
outlets
suggest
the
PCB
is
exploring
gestures
to
signal
solidarity
with
Bangladesh.
Among
the
options
being
discussed
are
wearing
black
armbands
throughout
the
World
Cup,
refusing
to
play
the
high-profile
February
15
match
against
India
in
Colombo,
or
dedicating
each
tournament
victory
to
Bangladesh
cricket
supporters.
For
now,
Pakistan’s
World
Cup
campaign
hangs
in
the
balance,
with
the
government’s
decision
expected
to
shape
not
just
cricketing
outcomes,
but
also
broader
diplomatic
messaging
within
international
sport.
