“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” — Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and activist.
Remarkably, Pakistan, under the leadership of Mohsin Naqvi, stood up and was counted in the saga that ultimately expelled Bangladesh from the Twenty20 World Cup.
Before a lopsided 14-2 majority and a chorus of mute, obsequious member boards, Pakistan backed Bangladesh’s stance that it harboured genuine and credible security fears about playing its matches in an increasingly volatile India.
Sadly, a principled stance by a valued member fell on deaf ears, proving once again that might masquerades as right.
A nation dispossessed
A passionate nation of more than 200 million people will now either turn its back on the World Cup altogether or watch it through clenched teeth and bitter hearts. Their rightful place is taken by Scotland, whose officials conceded — almost sheepishly — that their entry into the mega event came by default rather than merit.
A good team, which reached the last eight in the previous event, is deprived, and this loss will not be for the current set of players but for the millions of budding cricketers who will dither before making a career in the game.
Their latest issue had given strong members like Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand a chance to stand up and challenge the hegemony of India. It gave a chance to subservient Asian bloc an opportunity to show unity with a member country.
Above all, it allowed the so-called big brother — the richest and most powerful cricketing nation, whose on-field standards have soared — to extend a hand of solidarity to a smaller neighbour.
But power, as history shows, often comes with coercion and a thinning skin. India chose to snub Bangladesh’s request, arm-twisting others into submission and engineering Bangladesh’s ouster.
Since Sheikh Hasina Wajid’s ouster and fleeing to India following a bloody student uprising against her autocratic rule, India and Bangladesh have been at daggers drawn. India not only sheltered Hasina but, despite a court order sentencing her to death and repeated demands to hand over her to Dhaka, the Modi-led fascist government refused to comply.
In a further escalation, India allegedly stirred up unrest in Bangladesh by orchestrating the killing of student leader Usman Hadi in an attempt to crush the anti-Hasina movement.
India doubled down by allegedly directing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to instruct Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh pacer Mustafizir Rahman, citing that “the geopolitical situation doesn’t allow a Bangladeshi player to play in India.”
BCCI not only manoeuvred to ensure full compliance with its orders, but also made it public — an act that should have been kept under wraps until after the World Cup. Instead, it appeared designed to stir chaos and collectively vilify a nation that dared to stand up to tyranny.
Reading the room
The message was loud and clear. Bangladesh read the writing on the wall and, on January 4, formally wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC), seeking relocation of its matches outside India.
The ICC, effectively steered by India’s Jay Shah — perhaps because the buck ultimately stopped with his father, Amit Shah, India’s interior minister. A textbook case of conflict of interest, brushed aside because bias now sits comfortably at the high table. Granting Bangladesh’s request would have been politically embarrassing for the interior minister.
Fans not welcome
The ICC attempted to placate Bangladesh but failed. It told the Bangladesh Cricket Board there were “no specific threats” to them, while conceding that any Bangladeshi fan wearing the national colours could face trouble in India.
It meant “you come as a team but don’t bring fans”. It irked the interim government, already angry at Hasina’s support from India.
In effect, the message was blunt: come as a team, but leave your fans behind. This deeply irked the interim government, already resentful of India’s support for Hasina. Bangladesh stood its ground, refusing to bend the knee.
Bangladesh’s concerns gained further credence following recent reports of a Bengali Muslim being beaten to death by extremists in West Bengal. Adding fuel to the fire, firebrand Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray publicly declared that Pakistan and Bangladesh should not be allowed to play in India and that his party would stop them from coming and playing.
A convenient excuse
But the ICC refused to budge. In justifying its decision, the governing body argued that relocating Bangladesh’s matches would set a “wrong precedent.”
The argument rings hollow.
The precedent had already been set when India was allowed to play its Champions Trophy matches last year after refusing to tour Pakistan on security grounds.
Yes, logistically, shifting matches would have posed challenges. Accepted. But extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary measures, and a credible governing body can rise to such occasions.
Under Naqvi’s leadership, Pakistan formally protested. Pakistan, after all, was the original victim when an obstinate India spoiled its party last year. After 29 long years, Pakistan was hosting a global event — yet was denied the honour of staging the final.
Since taking charge, Naqvi has taken the fight to India rather than playing on the back foot. Even critical and combative voices from India — most notably veteran anchor and analyst Vikrant Gupta — have conceded that Naqvi is the first Pakistani cricket chief to see eye to eye with peers and bat on the front foot.
It was Naqvi who ensured the signing of the “fusion formula” under which Pakistan and India will not tour each other when either hosts an ICC event. Bold and brilliant!
A wake-up call
The latest episode has again seen Naqvi playing aggressively. He forcefully raised Pakistan’s objections at the ICC Board meeting, condemning the injustice and discrimination against a fellow member. He even stalled Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup, with a final decision expected next week.
Pakistan may not boycott the World Cup. Pakistan may not walk off during a match against India due to severe financial consequences. But Pakistan has shaken the cricketing world. It has sent a clear message that the ICC must act as a members’ organisation, not a corporate outpost of the BCCI.
Bold and brilliant.
