PESHAWAR: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday stated that recent high-level cricket diplomacy was driven solely by the objective of securing respect and justice for Bangladesh, following the confirmation that Pakistan will participate in its high-profile T20 World Cup match against India.
Government reverses boycott decision
Naqvi’s comments come a day after the Pakistani government formally withdrew its decision to boycott its group-stage match against arch-rival India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
The initial boycott threat, announced on February 1, was a reaction to Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland in the tournament after the BCB refused to tour India, citing security concerns amid strained political relations.
Chain reaction resolved through negotiation
The boycott threat triggered protracted negotiations involving the International Cricket Council (ICC), the cricket boards of Pakistan and Bangladesh, consultations among national leaders, and diplomatic intercessions by nations including Sri Lanka and the UAE.
Naqvi: “Our Only Purpose Was to Highlight Injustice”
Addressing the media in Peshawar, Naqvi was questioned about conditions discussed during a pivotal meeting in Lahore on Sunday with ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khawaja and BCB officials. He firmly denied any personal or tangential agenda.
“We did not discuss anything apart from Bangladesh; our only purpose was to get Bangladesh respect, to highlight the injustice done to them,” Naqvi said. “And you saw that whatever demands Bangladesh made, they were accepted. That’s it.”
He emphasised the PCB’s role was purely advocacy: “We had no personal interest in the meeting. When their demands have been accepted, and it has been acknowledged that injustice was done to them, we are playing after that.”
ICC had warned of ‘significant implications’
The crisis had drawn a firm response from the ICC, which earlier stated that ‘selective participation’ was ‘difficult to reconcile’ with the principles of a global event. The council warned of “significant and long-term implications” for cricket and urged the PCB to seek a resolution protecting all stakeholders’ interests.
Reports indicated the ICC initiated back-channel talks to avert major financial losses from a high-profile boycott.
Domestic cricket overhaul
Regarding Pakistan’s domestic cricket, the PCB chief said the structure will expand with two new teams, and the tournament prize money will see a substantial increase. The winning team will now receive Rs. 5 million, while the runners-up will get Rs. 2.5 million. “This is to strengthen the process of cricket development,” he stated.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a talent hub
Naqvi noted that 60% of the current national team players hail from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). To further harness this talent, two new teams are being formed in the Peshawar region. He detailed close collaboration with the KP Sports Board to establish and improve cricket academies and grounds, aiming to refine regional talent for the national level.
Potential for PSL in Peshawar
Hinting at a positive development for local fans, the PCB Chairman suggested an announcement regarding Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Peshawar could be imminent, stating, “You might get some good news on this very today.”
Security and counter-terrorism efforts
In his capacity as Interior Minister, Naqvi addressed national security. He confirmed that recent meetings of the Apex Committee on counter-terrorism had taken place, with all institutions working jointly. He commended the KP Police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for their effective role, particularly in the investigation of the recent Islamabad blast.
National digital identity system
On governance reforms, Naqvi announced the government is working on rolling out a national digital identity system. This initiative aims to bring transparency to investment, banking, and other sectors while reducing fraud.
Earlier on Monday, a high-level diplomacy resolved the cricket dispute, culminating in Pakistan’s decision to play its T20 World Cup match against India.
The breakthrough followed a lengthy meeting in Lahore on Sunday between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khwaja, and the President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
International appeals for Pakistan to reconsider its boycott came swiftly. Sri Lanka’s President, in a phone call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the BCB President both urged Pakistan to participate in the high-profile fixture.
In a statement, the BCB thanked the PCB and ICC for their “positive roles” and the “exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity” shown by Pakistan and its cricket fans.
Subsequently, the Pakistani government formally withdrew its boycott decision. In a related resolution, the ICC confirmed that no penalty would be imposed on the BCB, and instead, Bangladesh was granted hosting rights for a major ICC event ahead of the 2031 Cricket World Cup.
