T20 World Cup drama intensifies as Bangladesh’s sports advisor showers praise on Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The heartfelt thanks comes after Sharif vowed to boycott Pakistan’s clash with India, framing it as unwavering support for Bangladesh’s ouster from the tournament.
Posting on Facebook Thursday, Asif Nazrul quoted Sharif’s cabinet remarks from the previous day. ‘Pakistan stands firmly with Bangladesh against their removal from the T20 World Cup. We’re boycotting the India match—no politics on the field,’ Sharif declared, adding that the decision was deliberate and just.
Pakistan had already confirmed it would not field its team for the February 15 showdown in Colombo. This stance drew immediate fire from the ICC, which on Sunday condemned selective match-playing as antithetical to tournament integrity.
The ICC demanded mutual resolution and stressed the expectation of full participation from all qualified teams. It reminded the PCB that unofficial stances undermine the event’s global ethos and could jeopardize Pakistan’s cricket future on the world stage.
Background to the saga: Bangladesh cited security risks to bar its team from traveling to India. Scotland stepped in as replacement, despite Bangladesh’s plea to shift games to Sri Lanka—a request ICC dismissed outright.
This episode reveals cricket’s vulnerability to international tensions, with Pakistan’s gesture forging unexpected unity. Fans and officials alike ponder if such protests will redefine competitive boundaries or merely fuel ongoing rivalries.
