The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been accused of practicing “double standards” and tarnishing the reputation of the sport after expelling Bangladesh from the men’s T20 World Cup after they refused to travel to India citing safety concerns.
Bangladesh was expelled from the upcoming tournament by the ICC on Saturday following a weeks-long impasse between cricket’s governing body and the South Asian country over changing the venue of the World Cup matches.
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The move, which resulted in Scotland taking part in the tournament instead of Bangladesh, was criticized as a “sad moment for the game” by former cricketers, experts and the Cricketers’ Association.
“Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup, and the resulting absence of a valued cricketing nation from cricket’s premier international T20 event, is a sad moment for our sport, Bangladeshi players and fans, and requires deep reflection,” Tom Moffat, CEO of the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), said in a statement.
“Rather than entrench division and exclusion, we call on the game’s leaders to work with all stakeholders, including governing bodies, leagues and players, to unite the sport rather than divide it.”
Moffat said the WCA was increasingly concerned about the lack of compliance in the sporting world and the lack of meaningful consultation with athletes and their representatives.
“It also highlights serious problems with the existing operating model of gaming at a global level,” he added.
“If these issues continue to go unaddressed, they will undermine trust and unity, and ultimately undermine the health and future of the game we love.”
“The ICC should be building bridges, not bridges.”
The ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to reschedule the match to co-host Sri Lanka, saying it was not practical to reschedule it so close to the start of the tournament on February 7, but Bangladesh stood by its position not to play the match in India, citing player safety and security concerns.
However, former players questioned the ICC’s impartiality after it recently moved India’s match from Pakistan to a neutral venue for the same reason.
India has refused to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in March based on a government decision. For this reason, the ICC decided to broker an agreement between the two countries, allowing the neighboring country to play at a neutral venue when it hosts a world tournament.
All of India’s Champions Trophy matches, including the final, were held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Outspoken former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi questioned the ICC’s decision and said he was “very disappointed”.
“Bangladeshi players and millions of fans deserve respect. Not mixed standards,” he wrote in X.
“The ICC should be building bridges, not bridges.”
Although India and Bangladesh are not rivals, their relationship has been affected by recent political tensions.
Pakistan condemns ‘injustice’
Pakistan is scheduled to play all of its T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, but Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan’s participation has not yet been confirmed.
When asked to comment on the ICC’s decision, Naqvi, who is also the country’s interior minister, said: “The prime minister is currently not in Pakistan. When he returns, he will be able to tell you the final decision.”
“Our stance (on participating in the World Cup) will be dictated to me by the Pakistan government,” he said. “This is the (Pakistani) government’s decision. We follow the government, not the ICC.”
Naqvi said the ICC had done an injustice to Bangladesh.
“There can’t be double standards. You can’t say one country (India) can do whatever it wants and another country has to do exactly the opposite,” he said. “That is why we have taken this stand and made it clear that Bangladesh has been treated unfairly against them. They should be in the World Cup. They are a major stakeholder in cricket.”
Naqvi said if the government prevents Pakistan from participating in the World Cup, “then the ICC will probably call the 22nd team (after Scotland). That is up to the government.”
