Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi found himself under the spotlight after Pakistan officially confirmed it will face India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, marking a clear U-turn from its earlier boycott stance.
Pakistan are scheduled to play India in their group-stage clash on February 15, ending weeks of uncertainty surrounding the high-profile fixture. The Pakistan government had earlier prevented the national team from playing India, citing solidarity with Bangladesh after the ICC removed the latter from the tournament. However, prolonged discussions involving the ICC, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other cricket boards—including the UAE and Sri Lanka—eventually led to a reversal of the decision.
Shortly before the official confirmation, Naqvi attended a Pakistan Super League (PSL) press conference, where questions around the boycott and Pakistan’s negotiating position dominated the discussion. As he exited the event, an interviewer pressed him for clarity on whether Pakistan had secured any concessions from the ICC.
Naqvi candidly admitted that no gains were made for Pakistan during the talks.
“Hamne Bangladesh ke liye stand liya tha. Hamne apne liye kuch nahi kiya,”
(We took a stand for Bangladesh. We didn’t do anything for ourselves.)
When asked whether a decision was imminent, Naqvi responded,
“Bas ab thodi der mein faisla ho jayega,”
indicating that an announcement was only moments away.
He further explained that Bangladesh had itself requested Pakistan to play the match, suggesting that their concerns with the ICC had been resolved.
“Bangladesh ne request ki hai Pakistan se ki hum match khelein. Jab unka maamla tay ho gaya, tabhi unhone ye request ki,”
(Bangladesh requested Pakistan to play the match. Their issues were resolved, which is why they made this request.)
Following the confirmation, the ICC released a statement emphasizing unity and adherence to tournament commitments.
“It was agreed that all members will respect their commitments as per the terms of participation for ICC events and do all that is necessary to ensure that the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is a success,” the statement read.
Sources also indicated that the ICC rejected all three demands put forward by the PCB during negotiations. These reportedly included Pakistan’s request for the resumption of bilateral cricket series with India, which remains unresolved.
The episode has left Pakistan isolated in the broader T20 World Cup row, with Naqvi’s remarks underscoring that the final decision was driven more by diplomatic pressure than sporting concessions.
