The T20 World Cup is exactly a week away, and we still do not officially know if Pakistan will be playing. This is what can only be described as irresponsible behaviour. Pakistan are welcome to withdraw if they choose to, and if they wish to continue with their posturing, they are more than entitled to do so. However, as a member of the ICC Board, they cannot hold the tournament to ransom. They ought to communicate clearly, as responsible members are expected to do. Keeping people guessing is neither good governance nor best practice.
Sources tell me Pakistan will play. From what I have been told, they will at best wear black armbands during their match against India as a mark of solidarity with Bangladesh. In sum, they will play the India match under protest. A second school of thought suggests Pakistan might still consider boycotting the India game. They would play the World Cup but boycott the India match. While this seems increasingly unlikely, with Pakistan you cannot rule anything out. As I have argued before, Mohsin Naqvi is a politician first and a cricket administrator thereafter, and he will do everything possible to woo the local political constituency back home.
People from all walks of life have cautioned Naqvi against making a false step. Pakistan legends like Wasim Akram have been extremely vocal in questioning Pakistan’s decision to consider a boycott of the tournament. Legal opinion states very clearly that Pakistan stands to lose a great deal if they boycott and could be penalised by the ICC. Estimates suggest the PCB could lose as much as 400 crore rupees. While the ICC will lose broadcast revenue – which is used to support Associate member nations – it can be imagined how they would feel if betrayed by Pakistan. For India, this money is a mere drop in the ocean thanks to the IPL, and it would not really matter.
Any false step will invite sanctions. The ICC, sources say, is ready. They are prepared for any eventuality and will deal with Pakistan sternly if they decide to hold the sport to ransom. Naqvi had suggested that a final decision would be taken on Friday or Monday, and time is clearly running out for them. There is little or no support, and it would not be surprising if Bangladesh too decides to abandon Pakistan going forward, having realised the economic necessity of doing so.
For the record, Bangladesh are sending a shooting team to India to participate in the Asian Shooting Championship. A team of two – one shooter and a coach – have been cleared to come to India. One wonders why. How is it that there are no security threats? What happened to India being unsafe that the shooting team is allowed to come? Or is it that the shooting team is relatively less important than cricket and will not give Asif Nazrul much publicity, so he cannot continue with his big media talk? It is a clear case of double standards, and yet again Bangladesh stands exposed. Now, we wait to see when Pakistan finally decides to announce their decision to the world.
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