Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), denied on Sunday that the announcement of the T20 World Cup team indicated the nation’s decision to participate in the ICC mega event next month.
Naqvi reaffirmed his previous position that the PCB has been awaiting word from the Pakistani government before making a decision regarding the country’s participation in the T20 World Cup, which is being held in India and Sri Lanka.
Following Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL, the BCB refused to let its team to go to India, citing security concerns. As a result, the International Cricket Council removed Bangladesh from the forthcoming T20 World Cup on Saturday and added Scotland.
“We are waiting for the government’s advice and whatever the government tells us to do we will do it. If they don’t want us to go for the World Cup, we will follow it,” in a meeting which was held after the squad announcement, Naqvi informed Pakistan players and head coach Mike Hesson in Lahore.
Pakistan’s 15-man T20 World Cup squad, captained by Salman Ali Agha, was announced on Sunday.
Naqvi informed the players of the PCB’s stance about Bangladesh’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup due to their refusal to come to India due to security concerns at the meeting.
The PCB later announced in a statement that the players supported the board’s moral position in favor of Bangladesh. Additionally, Naqvi informed the players that Bangladesh’s refusal to play their games in India was a matter of principle.
Naqvi was reported in the PCB statement as stating, “We firmly reject the double standards of the ICC,” adding that the game should be conducted in accordance with its spirit and tenets.
