The decision by Pakistan to boycott the India match in the T20 World Cup has sent shockwaves in Indian politics. Congress MP, Shashi Tharoor, has stated that Pakistan’s boycott call should be a “wake-up call” for India. Tharoor stated that Pakistan was justified in boycotting the match as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh, given that a Bangladeshi cricketer, Mustafizur Rahman, was not withdrawn from the Kolkata team.
Tharoor further added that it is unfortunate to see sports being politicized. In a significant move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has allowed the national cricket team to participate in the T20 World Cup, but as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh, the Pakistani team will boycott the scheduled match against India on February 15. The decision was made after a meeting between PCB Chairman, Muhammad Waseem, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup was won by India, while the Asian Under-21 Snooker Championship in Qatar saw Pakistan’s Ahsan Ramzan compete against Iran’s Shahin Sabzi in the final. Our flight is booked, and we’re on our way to find out what happens next.
In another development, several veteran cricketers will be participating in the tournament. According to a report by Lincoln Media, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has written to the Pakistan Cricket Board, stating that Pakistan’s boycott announcement has affected Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, with a large number of fans cancelling their hotel bookings.
Former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik stated that cricket is at its peak, and the controversy surrounding the scheduling of matches is also a topic of discussion. In a video, Pakistani cricketers were seen mimicking the style of Aamer Ahmed in a fun and entertaining way. In the camp, there is a focus on the fitness of women players, and the team includes a large number of young players to prepare for the World Cup.
In a related development, the Punjab government has announced that it will cancel all its official events as a mark of respect for the victims of the bomb blast in Islamabad. The government has also announced that it will provide financial assistance to the families of the victims.
The Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad, in a press conference, stated that the IG’s cousin was also among the victims. Thomas Dine, a US representative, stated that a two-sided agreement without nuclear power is not viable, and China’s nuclear arsenal lacks transparency, control, and announcements.
The Sindh government has also announced that it will cancel its cultural night music program as a mark of respect for the victims of the Islamabad blast.
