Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul has requested Pakistan to play its upcoming T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The final decision, however, rests with the Pakistan government. To resolve the issue, an ICC delegation met PCB president Mohsin Naqvi in Lahore on Sunday, where Bulbul made the request in the interest of cricket.
On Monday night, the ICC, PCB, and all parties involved received a formal statement of thanks from BCB. Bulbul said, “We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish.”
“Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request
Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket eco system”, Bulbul added.
Bangladesh had pulled out of its matches in India due to government-mandated security concerns, and after negotiations with ICC, the venue could not be changed. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in Group C, and the World Cup began without the Bangladeshi team. Citing ICC influence, Pakistan announced a potential boycott of the India clash.
The match is estimated to be worth 61 billion taka when accounting for broadcasting, sponsorship, advertisements, ticketing, and revenue, making ICC keen to avoid cancellation. ICC held urgent talks with PCB, and BCB president Bulbul was involved because Bangladesh is also affected. No final decision has yet been made.
According to multiple Indian and Pakistani media reports, PCB president Naqvi is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the next couple of days to finalize the decision on playing against India.
Telecom Asia Sports reported that Pakistan may agree to play against India if three conditions are met: increased annual revenue from ICC, resumption of bilateral series against India, and withdrawal from the previous stance on avoiding traditional handshakes in India-Pakistan matches.
NDTV claimed that PCB has submitted three requests to ICC on behalf of Bangladesh: financial compensation for not participating, participation fees, and the opportunity to host a future ICC event. No formal announcement has been made yet.
