India vs Pakistan match is once again in the news. After weeks of failure, now PTI reports that Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Chairman Aminul Islam has asked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to end the boycott against India and play the match to be held in Colombo on February 15.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam was present in Pakistan along with Naqvi in a virtual meeting with ICC vice-president Imran Khawaja after the apex body held an emergency meeting to end the dispute between India and Pakistan. The chief of Bangladesh Cricket Board has appreciated the fact that Pakistan supported him when he was dropped from the T20 World Cup.
Bangladesh Cricket Board turned the tables
The Bangladesh Cricket Board received no support except from the PCB, while they stuck to their stance of changing the venues from India to Sri Lanka for the major event citing security issues. The fiasco started when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ordered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman amid rising tensions over anti-Bangladesh sentiment in India.
However, the BCCI made no official confirmation of the expulsion and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, angered by the decision, refused to travel to India citing the safety of the cricketers and management. Pakistan voted in support of its neighbors on their request to move their matches and described it as an ‘injustice’ after being moved.
Pakistan is trapped in its own trap
After this, the Pakistan government announced this on social media and mentioned their participation in the T20 World Cup and also shared that they will boycott the India vs Pakistan match on 15 February. Since then this trend has continued. Now, in the sequence of events, Sri Lanka Cricket along with the Emirates Cricket Board wrote an official email to the PCB to reconsider its stance.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has good relations with Aminul Islam, SLC and Emirates Cricket. The UAE has been the home and away stadium for Pakistan for many years, since the terrorist shootings targeting Sri Lankan cricketers in 2009. The first major tournament returns in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
PCB is now waiting for the government’s signal
PCB has demanded some things from ICC to reverse its stand on India vs Pakistan match. They want the apex body to request BCCI to start India vs Pakistan bilateral series and increase their revenue, a part of which they get from ICC’s annual revenue. He also wants India to start shaking hands, which they had stopped during the Asia Cup matches.
Mohsin Naqvi is waiting for the green signal after having final talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the decision to boycott the game was not the PCB’s but the federal government decided the stance. India vs Pakistan generates double the revenue than any other ICC event. ICC and Sri Lanka will have to suffer losses if the game does not take place.
Also read: Emirates Cricket Board warns Mohsin Naqvi of consequences over India boycott, pulls out past-favor card
