Lahore – Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam arrived in Lahore on Sunday, where he is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the PCB confirmed.
Islam was received at the airport by Pakistan Super League (PSL) CEO Salman Naseer, who also serves as an adviser to the PCB chairman, along with other senior officials.
According to a PCB statement, Islam will meet with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who concurrently holds the post of Pakistan’s interior minister. His visit comes just a day after the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The tournament, featuring 20 teams, has been mired in political tension following Bangladesh’s decision not to play in India due to security concerns. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament after the ICC denied Bangladesh’s request to move their matches to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh has remained steadfast in its decision to withdraw, prompting Pakistan to reconsider its own participation. While Pakistan’s team was cleared to compete in the tournament, the PCB announced that its side would abstain from the scheduled match against India in Colombo.
The ICC responded to Pakistan’s stance, stating that selective participation undermines the principles of a global sporting event, where all qualified teams are expected to compete according to the official schedule. The ICC urged the PCB to consider the long-term impact on both Pakistani cricket and the global cricket ecosystem.
“The ICC’s primary focus is the successful delivery of the Men’s T20 World Cup. All member boards, including the PCB, have a responsibility to ensure the tournament proceeds smoothly,” the ICC said in a statement, calling for a mutually acceptable resolution that safeguards the interests of all stakeholders.
Sources within the Pakistani government revealed that the decision to boycott the India match was a show of solidarity with Bangladesh. The government reportedly viewed the ICC’s decision regarding Bangladesh as biased and sought to support their regional counterpart.
The India-Pakistan clash is widely regarded as one of the most lucrative fixtures in cricket, generating millions in broadcast, sponsorship, and advertising revenue. ICC officials have reportedly been engaging in back-channel discussions to prevent financial losses and ensure the tournament remains on track.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has urged Pakistan to reconsider, warning that a boycott could result in economic repercussions and affect Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, still recovering from the 2022 financial crisis.
Pakistan, who narrowly defeated the Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, would face a two-point penalty if they forfeit the match against India, along with a potential setback to their net run rate. Captain Salman Agha has indicated that the team would consult the government again if it reaches the semi-finals or finals against India.