Bangladesh Sports Adviser Praises Pakistan PM Sharif for Backing T20 World Cup Position

New Delhi- Amid continuing controversy surrounding the upcoming T20 World Cup, Bangladesh Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul has expressed gratitude to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for supporting Bangladesh following its exclusion from the tournament.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Nazrul thanked Sharif and described Pakistan’s decision to boycott its match against India as a gesture of solidarity with Bangladesh. “Thank you, Pakistan,” Nazrul wrote while acknowledging the move.

He also cited comments made by Sharif during a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday, where the Pakistani Prime Minister explained the reason behind the boycott. Sharif reportedly said that Pakistan chose to skip the match against India to protest Bangladesh’s removal from the T20 World Cup. He stressed that sports should remain free from political influence and described the decision as well-considered, adding that Pakistan should stand firmly with Bangladesh.

Earlier, the Pakistan government announced that its national cricket team would not participate in the group-stage match against India scheduled for February 15 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.

Following this development, the International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a strong response, urging the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to find a mutually acceptable solution. The ICC warned that selective participation contradicts the core principles of global sporting competitions.

The ICC stated that it is awaiting official communication from the PCB but noted that refusing to play certain matches conflicts with the basic expectation that all qualified teams compete according to the tournament schedule. The global cricket body also advised PCB to consider the long-term consequences of such decisions, noting that they could impact Pakistan’s role in the international cricket ecosystem.

Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup after its government refused permission for the team to travel to India, citing security concerns. Bangladesh had requested that its matches be relocated to Sri Lanka, but the ICC rejected the proposal.

With inputs from IANS