The disagreement over Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup is far from over. Although the ICC has excluded Bangladesh from the tournament and handed the spot to Scotland, the fallout has now shifted focus to Pakistan. Accusing the ICC of double standards, Pakistan has refused to accept what it calls “injustice” towards Bangladesh and has even threatened to boycott its World Cup match against India.
However, no final decision has been taken yet. On Monday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi met Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to discuss the issue. The meeting ended without a resolution, prolonging the uncertainty further.
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Mohsin Naqvi–Shahbaz Sharif meeting yields no decision
Around 4:30 PM Indian time, Mohsin Naqvi and Shahbaz Sharif held a meeting to discuss Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup. After the discussion, Naqvi shared an update on his X handle.
He said that the meeting with the Prime Minister was productive and that he had briefed him on the entire matter concerning the ICC and the World Cup. According to Naqvi, the Prime Minister advised considering all possibilities and being fully prepared before making a decision. He added that no decision was taken during the meeting and that the final call would be announced either next Friday (January 30) or Monday (February 2).
In other words, despite announcing their squad, Pakistan has kept speculation alive regarding its World Cup participation.
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What options does Pakistan have if it does not boycott the World Cup?
If Pakistan does not withdraw from the tournament entirely, three possibilities are being discussed. Pakistan could boycott only the match against India. The team could wear black armbands in every match. Alternatively, they could dedicate any match victory to Bangladesh.
For now, it remains to be seen which course Pakistan ultimately chooses.
