The India vs Pakistan match is back on the table. After weeks of fiasco, now reports from PTI arriving that, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam has asked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) president Mohsin Naqvi to end the boycott against India and play the match which is scheduled on 15th February at Colombo.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam was present in Pakistan with Naqvi at the virtual meeting with the ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja, after a emergnecy meeting was held by the apex body to end the row between India and Pakistan. Bangladesh Cricket Board head has appreciated that Pakistan supported them when they were removed from the T20 World Cup.
Bangladesh Cricket Board turns the tables
Bangladesh Cricket Board did not get any support except from PCB while they continued to maintain their stance to change their venues from India to Sri Lanka for the major event, citing security issues. The fiasco started after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ordered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman amid rising tensions due to anti-Bangladesh sentiment in India.
However, BCCI gave no official confirmation of the removal, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, left fuming with the decision, refused to travel to India, citing the security of the cricketers and the management as well. Pakistan voted in support of their neighbours to request to move their matches, and called it an ‘injustice’, after the removal.
Pakistan falls into their own trap
After this happened, Pakistan government, while making their announcement on social media, mentioned their participation in the T20 World Cup and also shared that they will boycott the India vs Pakistan match on 15th February. Since then, the row has continued. Now, in the turn of events, Sri Lanka Cricket, along with Emirates Cricket Board, wrote official emails to the PCB to reconsider its stance.
PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has a good relationship with Aminul Islam, SLC, and the Emirates Cricket. As the UAE has been the home and away stadium for Pakistan for many years, after the 2009 terror shootout targeting the Sri Lankan cricketers. The first major tournament returned back in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
PCB is now waiting for the government’s signal
PCB has demanded certain things from the ICC in order to reverse their stance on the India vs Pakistan match. They want the apex body to request BCCI to start the India vs Pakistan bilateral series, and increase their revenue, which they get a part of from the annual revenue of the ICC. They also want India to start with the handshakes, which they stopped during the Asia Cup matches.
Mohsin Naqvi awaits the green signal after having a final word with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as it was not PCB’s decision to boycott the game, but the federal government decided on the stance. India vs Pakistan generates double the revenue of any other ICC event. ICC and Sri Lanka have to incur a loss if the game does not happen.
