Former general secretary of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Syed Ashraful Haque, suggested that the new BCB chief, Aminul Islam, may have been misled by Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, regarding Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup in India.
Countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan are key players in International cricket, yet they do not always act in unity. Tensions with the ICC grew as the T20 World Cup in India approached.
Bangladesh ultimately chose not to attend the tournament, citing “security concerns,” which led to their exit from the competition. Pakistan escalated the situation by threatening to boycott their match against India in support of Bangladesh.
Speaking to RevSportz, Haque questioned:
“As a cricket administrator, I focus on honesty and commitment. Aminul Islam, likely being naive, was influenced by Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, who persuaded him to follow this path. In the end, who benefited?”
He further remarked:
“At that time, the government was riding a wave of anti-Indian sentiment. There should be no opposition to India except over the allegations regarding harboring a criminal. Otherwise, Bangladesh needed support from Indian cricket officials. During Jagmohan Dalmiya’s time, we had respect and influence; now we risk being mocked due to the actions of a few and government pressures.”
In another development, Indian team captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha during the toss for their T20 World Cup match in Colombo on February 15. This break from tradition has been noted since the Asia Cup held in Dubai last year.
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A Tournament Shaped More Than Just Sports
The T20 World Cup controversy highlights the strong ties between cricket and politics in the subcontinent. Bangladesh’s withdrawal over security fears, Pakistan’s display of solidarity, and the noticeable tensions among players have turned this sports event into a dramatic affair. Allegations of foreign interference in cricket administration have complicated the situation further. Despite the international focus on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, these nations remain divided.
