Pakistan formally backs Bangladesh's refusal to play in India
The diplomatic dispute clouding the upcoming T20 World Cup deepened on Tuesday after Pakistan formally threw its support behind Bangladesh’s refusal to play its matches in India, citing security concerns linked to the current political climate.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its board members, endorsing the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) position that conditions in India are not conducive to guaranteeing player safety. The intervention came just a day before the ICC’s scheduled board meeting, where a final decision on Bangladesh’s participation is expected.
The ICC has convened an emergency meeting to break the deadlock, with the tournament due to start in less than three weeks. Despite Pakistan’s support, officials familiar with the matter say the ICC remains firm that the tournament schedule will not be altered, rejecting proposals to shift Bangladesh’s matches to co-host Sri Lanka.
The BCB, acting with backing from the Bangladesh government, has maintained that the team will not travel to India unless security assurances are revised. The ICC, however, has repeatedly stressed that host nation arrangements have already been vetted and approved.
Pakistan’s move follows days of speculation that it could reassess its own participation depending on how the issue unfolds. While the PCB has not issued a public statement, its written support signals growing unease among regional boards.
The row traces back to a decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ask an IPL franchise to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, citing strained bilateral relations—an action that further hardened Dhaka’s stance and pushed the issue onto the international cricket stage.
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