Lahore : In a last ditch effort to save Pak- India match of T 20 world cup , International Cricket Council (ICC) deputy chair , Usman Khawaja, has rushed to Lahore for a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman , Mohsin Naqvi, to persuade him for playing Pak – India match scheduled for February 15.
Meanwhile ,Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Ameenul Islam has also landed in Lahore to discuss the fallout of Pakistan’s denial to play with India for T20 world cup match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo , Sri Lanka.
ICC top official and BCB president had meeting with PCB chairman , Mohsin Naqvi , in Lahore on Sunday.
Till filing of these reports, PCB has not made any announcement on the outcome of Lahore huddle . However , it’s pretty clear that Pakistan will not agree to play against India on February 15 unless ICC gives some gurantees for honourable entry to Bangladesh for ICC matches. Pakistan has very clear position on ICC ‘s biased action against Bangladesh for asking it to shift its matches of T20 world cup out of India. Bangladesh had valid reasons to make demand to ICC to fix its matches of T20 out of India in the wake of exclusion of its star cricketer Mustafizur Rehman from Indian Premier League (IPL).
ICC , instead following an unbiased approach and give a lawful approach to Bangladesh’s demand as it did in the case of shifting India ‘s matches out of Pakistan when the former refused to play in Pakistan citing risk to the lives of its players in case they play in Pakistan . ICC favoured India that time and set a precedent , but denied the same to Bangladesh. Pakistan took a legitimate position for Bangladesh and alleged that ICC instead treating all teams with the same stick , was acting as an India stooge. Now when match between India and Pakistan is in danger , ICC has assigned Usman Khawaja to make the last ditch efforts to persuade Pakistan to end boycott and play its match fixed for T20 world cup 2026 in Colombo , Sri Lanka. In the wake of Lahore huddle , a final word from Pakistan is likely to come on Monday.
