Pakistan on Feb. 1 announced they would boycott the men's T20 World Cup group league match against India, even as it confirmed participation in the tournament. Pakistan were scheduled to face the Suryakumar Yadav-led side in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Feb. 15. The decision was conveyed through an official government statement and is being widely viewed as a protest linked to Bangladesh's removal from the tournament.
Pakistan's announcement has sparked strong reactions from prominent voices in Indian cricket, including veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle, and former India cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Aakash Chopra, Madan Lal and Atul Wasan.
Sunil Gavaskar said the ICC should take action against Pakistan, ensuring such a situation does not arise again. Speaking to 'India Today', Gavaskar said, “I think if you withdraw at the last moment, that is an issue. If you withdraw earlier on, that's another matter altogether. But if you withdraw at the last moment, on the eve of the tournament, then yes, I think certainly the ICC should come in and take some action. I don't know what action they will take, but I think there are so many other boards involved, so it's not just going to be one person's decision. However, it should be something that ensures no other team in the future also considers doing that.”
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Gavaskar also suggested the world body could explore legal options. “The ICC will probably take legal action against Pakistan over the refusal to play against India, but what the result of such an action would be, I can't say.”
Harsha Bhogle highlighted the wider implications for the tournament's commercial ecosystem, especially if Pakistan follows through with the boycott. Posting on X, he wrote, “It will be very interesting to see the response of the ICC if Pakistan go to the World Cup but don't play India. I don't know the legal position, or how the precedence could play out, but I won't be surprised if the ICC asks that the broadcaster's loss be deducted from Pakistan's share of ICC revenues. And, by the way, what if it is an India-Pakistan final?”
https://x.com/bhogleharsha/status/2017974450004877757
Aakash Chopra questioned the timing and intent behind the decision, pointing to Pakistan's Under-19 team playing India in an ICC event even as the senior side considers a boycott. Chopra wrote on X, “Pakistan deciding not to play against India in an ICC event on the day Pakistan played against India in an ICC event. Hypocrisy ki spelling sahi hai?”
In a video that he shared on X, Chopra also raised concerns over how such a boycott could be selectively applied. “Pakistan cricket right now is a mess. If you boycott that match, the wording suggests you'll only boycott the February 15 match. And if you face India in the semi-final, you might turn around and say, ‘Oh no, we were joking. We'll only boycott that one match.' Where's the spine? What's the logic? If you're going to do this, I think there will be repercussions. Some repercussions will be serious, some will be vocal, and some might be unwritten.”
Madan Lal told ANI that the move could end up hurting Pakistan cricket more than anyone else. “I think the Pakistan government or PCB, they are all damaging their own cricket. It's not going to solve their problems. Someone has to be there to think right. They are not thinking right at the moment.”
Atul Wassan, speaking to ANI, said he was both surprised and concerned by the possible fallout. “I feel a little sorry for them, and I'm also a little surprised. What do they want? Because if Pakistan doesn't play this match and concede the points, and then you meet India later, will you still not play? So if you've decided this, then you haven't left ICC with any option. ICC will have to kick them out because it would be blackmail, wouldn't it? They don't know the financial loss will be significant.”
Wassan added, “They (Pakistan) have a misconception that ICC and BCCI are the same, but they're not. Just because we have Jay Shah being the head of the ICC doesn't mean that the BCCI owns the ICC.”
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