In a surprising turn amid the T20 World Cup tensions, Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul has publicly thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for standing in solidarity with his nation. Sharif announced that Pakistan would boycott its match against India in support of Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament.
Nazrul shared his gratitude on Facebook, posting a simple yet powerful ‘Thank you, Pakistan.’ He highlighted Sharif’s comments from a cabinet meeting in Islamabad, where the PM explained the decision as a protest against Bangladesh’s removal from the event. ‘We will not play against India because there should be no politics in sports. We’ve taken this stand thoughtfully to fully support Bangladesh,’ Sharif stated to his cabinet members.
This bold move follows Pakistan’s earlier declaration that its cricket team would skip the Group match against India on February 15 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. The decision has sparked a fierce backlash from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In a stern statement, the ICC urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to resolve issues through dialogue and warned against selective participation, calling it contrary to the spirit of global competitions. The governing body emphasized that all teams are expected to honor the full schedule until official changes are made. It also cautioned Pakistan about the long-term implications for cricket in their country and the international game.
The controversy stems from Bangladesh’s government refusing to send its team to India citing security concerns. Consequently, Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament. Bangladesh had requested to play its matches in Sri Lanka, but the ICC rejected the proposal, escalating regional cricket politics.
As the cricket world watches closely, this alliance between Pakistan and Bangladesh underscores deeper geopolitical undercurrents influencing the sport. Whether this boycott reshapes tournament dynamics remains to be seen, but it has undeniably heightened global attention on the T20 World Cup.