Former England captain Nasser Hussain has criticized the ICC’s handling of Bangladesh’s elimination from the T20 World Cup and questioned whether the governing body would have been as strict if India had abruptly declined to play in a nation. Hussain has called for consistency in world cricket.
When Bangladesh refused to participate in India due to security concerns, the International Cricket Council replaced them with Scotland for the T20 World Cup.
“If India, a month before a tournament, said ‘our government does not want us to play in a country for a World Cup’, would the ICC have been so firm and said, ‘You know the rules, bad luck, we’re knocking you out?” Hussain asked on the ‘Sky Sports Cricket Podcast’.
The 57-year-old emphasized the necessity of applying the rules equally.
“The only question all sides ask for is consistency. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India must be treated the same. Yes, India fans may say, ‘Cry more, we have the money!! But with power comes responsibility,” he said.
Following the removal of their bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL at the BCCI’s request, Bangladesh declined to travel to India for its allotted matches. It happened in the midst of further attacks on Hindus there, though the Indian Board did not say why.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the country’s decision to boycott their crucial T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo was a gesture of solidarity with Bangladesh after the country’s ouster.
Hussain said that the sport was “risking shooting itself in the foot” if politics remained the primary factor in international cricket decisions.
“I’m amazed at how well Pakistan have done and continue to do with everything that they are working against. And I actually quite like Bangladesh sticking to their guns, standing up for their players,” Hussain said.
“I quite like Pakistan sticking up for Bangladesh as well. At some stage, someone should say, enough with this politics, can we just get back to playing cricket.”
Pakistan has been cautioned by the ICC that its decision could have dire repercussions.
