The Pakistan government has officially approved the national cricket team to compete against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in Colombo. This decision comes after a meeting between the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday.
Although Naqvi indicated through a social media update that a definitive announcement would be made by Friday or Monday, sources have informed IANS that Pakistan is set to face India in the tournament.
“PCB Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and provided a detailed briefing on the ICC T20 World Cup and the current predicament regarding the Bangladesh Cricket Board,” an insider revealed to IANS.
There had been speculation that Pakistan might boycott their match against India, or even withdraw from the entire tournament, as a gesture of solidarity with Bangladesh. The latter was recently replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup lineup after opting out due to security concerns regarding their matches in India.
Following their meeting, Naqvi took to X to express that it was a “productive discussion” with the Prime Minister. He noted that the Prime Minister had directed that all options be considered in resolving the issue, with a final decision expected soon.
While the Pakistan government has given its approval for the match against India in the T20 World Cup, there are discussions about potential protests. Sources mentioned that the team might wear black armbands during the game or release a statement in support of Bangladesh beforehand.
In addition to his role as PCB Chairman, Naqvi also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, making him a key figure in shaping the government’s approach to the ICC. The government hopes that by delegating the decision-making to Naqvi and the PCB, they can apply pressure on the ICC.
Furthermore, PM Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the PCB to communicate with the ICC concerning the Bangladesh issue. Notably, Pakistan has been a vocal supporter of the Bangladesh Cricket Board during the recent ICC meeting where the board’s request for a venue change was denied.
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