Rana Sanaullah, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs, said that Pakistan should support Bangladesh after it was replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“I think we need to stand with Bangladesh on this. It will be in our interest in the long run”, he said.
“Maybe we will get less money. We can manage with less money, but the decision will have far-reaching impacts if Pakistan stands with Bangladesh today,” he added.
Mohsin Naqvi’s statement about Bangladesh
After Bangladesh was replaced, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi said that the board would decide about participation in the tournament in line with the government’s directives.
“Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently not in the country. We will announce the final decision after he returns to the country,” Naqvi added.
Pakistan has extended its support to Dhaka in its decision to avoid travelling to India, and also wrote a letter to the ICC, expressing support for the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) concerns.
Speaking to the media earlier today, the PCB chief said that Bangladesh has been “treated unfairly” by the ICC, saying Pakistan would announce the final decision on its participation after receiving directives from the government.
“I said the same in the board meeting of the ICC. You cannot have double standards, where one country can make whatever decision whenever and do the total opposite for another country,” Naqvi said.
“The thing is that Bangladesh is the same member as Pakistan. And our stance is that if you have done this favour with Pakistan and India, then you should do the same with Bangladesh,” he added.
