Former Chief Selector Chetan Sharma has called the boycott of India-Pakistan T20 match a political move. He said that Pakistan will change its decision after Bangladesh elections on February 12. Pakistan has not yet given official information to ICC.
New Delhi: Amid reports that Pakistan will boycott the India-Pakistan match to be held on February 15 in the T20 World Cup, former Indian Chief Selector Chetan Sharma has made a big prediction. He has said that the boycott instructions given by the Pakistan Government to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is just a political ploy and they will withdraw from this decision by 12th February.
Pakistan will take U-turn after 12th February
Chetan Sharma argues that Pakistan has taken this step to influence the general elections to be held in Bangladesh on February 12. He told India Today, “It is just a political game. There are elections in Bangladesh on the 12th. After that you will see that Pakistan will change its stand. They will soon issue a statement that ‘keeping in mind the public sentiments, we cannot ruin cricket, so we have decided to play against India’.”
Chetan Sharma said that he has been a politician and knows election tricks. He said, “After the elections are over, perhaps the Pakistan Army Chief himself can intervene and say that politics should not be mixed in sports.” Chetan Sharma also said that Pakistan has not yet officially informed the ICC about the boycott decision.
Chetan Sharma said, “Pakistan’s statements mean nothing without official confirmation. Anyone can announce a boycott, but until it is officially communicated, nothing changes. Who is really getting punished here? Cricket and the cricketers.”
Boycott of match against India is just a show
In Bangladesh, the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus, which came to power after the removal of Sheikh Hasina government, is adopting a close policy with Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi had earlier said that excluding Bangladesh from the ICC tournament was an ‘injustice’. Pakistan had announced to boycott the match against India in solidarity with Bangladesh. But according to local media reports, Mohammad Yunus government is now under immense pressure in Bangladesh and may face a major defeat in the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, there are also reports that some officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board themselves are unhappy with the government’s stance of refusing to come to India due to political pressure. There are reports that they are hoping that the change of power will secure the future of Bangladesh cricket.