Pakistan to play cricket match against India on 15 February !

Decision taken after Bangladesh’s mediation

Dhaka (Bangladesh) — Pakistan had boycotted its match against India scheduled for 15 February as part of the ongoing T20 World Cup cricket tournament. Now, following mediation by the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council, Pakistan has decided to play the match. The Bangladesh Cricket Board shared this information and expressed support for Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi. The Board stated that Naqvi demonstrated ‘exemplary sportsmanship and unity’.

After Bangladesh completely turned away from the World Cup being held in India, Pakistan had extended its support to Bangladesh. Subsequently, Pakistan also clearly stated that it would not play any match in the tournament solely against the Indian cricket team. The International Cricket Council then issued a warning to Pakistan. Following this, Bangladesh stepped in as a mediator and persuaded Pakistan to agree to play the match against India.

The ‘economic calculus’ behind the International Cricket Council’s appeasement of Bangladesh !

In fact, Bangladesh had boycotted the entire tournament from the outset. Pakistan merely gave this boycott a dramatic form. Now, even though Pakistan has agreed to play against India, the International Cricket Council has taken no action whatsoever against Bangladesh. On the contrary, it has resorted to appeasement by offering Bangladesh an opportunity to host a future global cricket tournament before 2031. Many have strongly objected to this bizarre response.

A meeting was held in Lahore between officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board, the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC. During this meeting, Bangladesh effectively took advantage of the ICC’s submissiveness. For the ICC, an India–Pakistan match is the most crucial fixture, primarily because of the financial stakes involved. By persuading Pakistan to agree to play the match, Bangladesh fulfilled the ICC’s ambitions. In return, indirect pressure was exerted that the ICC should not take any action against Bangladesh. By citing consideration for the sentiments of 20 crore cricket fans in Bangladesh, in effect prioritising the economics of Bangladeshi cricket, the ICC chose to sidestep its own rules.

Editorial Perspective

In fact, India should have boycotted Pakistan even before Pakistan announced its refusal to play against India. Even after the Pahalgam attack, India continues to roll out the red carpet for Pakistan; does this not clearly show that it places no value not only on the lives of Hindus in Bangladesh, but even on the lives of Hindus in India ?