Pakistan questions ‘double standards’ after Bangladesh excluded from T20 World Cup

By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Pakistan will await instructions from its government before taking a final position on the International Cricket Council’s decision to exclude Bangladesh from the men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday, criticising what he described as “double standards” in the global game.
Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister, told reporters in Lahore that the PCB would align its stance with the federal government once Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif returns to the country.
“We will do whatever the government of Pakistan will instruct us,” Naqvi said. “The prime minister is at the moment not in Pakistan and when he will return, we will give you the final decision on this matter.”
Bangladesh were earlier in the day excluded from the tournament following a standoff with the ICC over participation and scheduling issues, a move that has triggered debate within the cricketing community and prompted concerns.
Naqvi said Pakistan believed Bangladesh had been treated unfairly.
“I think Bangladesh has been roughly treated,” he said. “I had also told in the ICC Board meeting that you cannot do double standards. And that is the main reason that we have taken the stand that Bangladesh is being unjustly treated and they should be played in the World Cup,” Naqvi said.
He added that Bangladesh’s status within the sport warranted equal treatment.
“Bangladesh is a big stakeholder and they should not be treated with injustice,” Naqvi said. “Bangladesh is also a member like Pakistan.”
The PCB chairman suggested that precedents set in accommodating other countries should have been applied consistently.
“Our stance is if you have favoured both Pakistan and India then Bangladesh also should be extended fair treatment,” he said.
“The basic reason is that one country cannot dictate anyone and if an attempt is made to dictate, then Pakistan has its own stand.”
Naqvi underlined that while the PCB operates within the ICC framework, it ultimately answers to the state.
“Whatever the decision will be taken by the Pakistan government, we are bound to obey,” he said. “We are more to obey the government of Pakistan than the ICC.”
He said Pakistan had prepared multiple contingency options depending on how the situation evolves.
“Once the decision will come then we have Plan A, B and C ready,” Naqvi added, without providing further details.
Scotland, who had not initially qualified, were next in line based on ICC rankings and will now compete in Group C alongside heavyweights such as England, West Indies, Italy and Nepal.
Bangladesh had been given 24 hours to decide whether they would travel to India for World Cup. Bangladesh government took a stiff stance, saying it cannot allow its players to travel to India for World Cup due to security issues. Bangladesh Cricket Board (PCB) wanted ICC to shift their World Cup matches to Sri Lanka which is co-hosting the global event with India.