LAHORE: Senior officials from the International Cricket Council, Pakistan Cricket Board and Bangladesh Cricket Board held a high-level meeting at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday to discuss Pakistan’s decision to boycott its T20 World Cup match against India scheduled for February 15. The meeting continued late into the night, while all parties chose not to brief the media on the discussions.
Sources said an official announcement is likely only after the Government of Pakistan endorses the outcome. ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khawaja arrived in Lahore to meet PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, while BCB President Aminul Islam also flew in separately to attend consultations related to the crisis.
The PCB confirmed Khawaja’s arrival, noting he was received at the airport by PCB adviser Amir Mir. Separately, Naqvi welcomed Islam at Gaddafi Stadium, where both sides discussed the evolving situation surrounding the World Cup. Islam thanked Pakistan for its support, while PSL CEO Salman Naseer was also present during the meetings.
Political fallout clouds World Cup
The talks come a day after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup began amid political controversy. Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland after refusing to play matches in India due to security concerns. The ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate fixtures to Sri Lanka, prompting Dhaka to stay away from the tournament.
Pakistan later agreed to participate but announced it would not play India, citing solidarity with Bangladesh. The ICC warned that selective participation conflicted with the principles of a global event and could have long-term consequences for cricket in Pakistan.
A government source said the boycott reflected dissatisfaction with what Islamabad views as a biased ICC decision. Meanwhile, the ICC has reportedly pursued back-channel efforts to avert financial losses, as India-Pakistan matches generate massive global revenue. Sri Lanka’s cricket board has also urged Pakistan to reconsider its stance.
