Stage-managed India-Pakistan show leaves Bangladesh an outcast

Feb.10 (Mirror Sports) - India and Pakistan have literally had the best free advertisement, critics may argue theatre, in the run-up to their match at the Men’s T20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday like never before bringing into focus the hypocrisy of politics, statecraft and even fair-play that made one other leading cricket-playing country Bangladesh an outcast.

Die-hard supporters of India, that arguably picks and chooses how to run the International Cricket Council (ICC) ever since it fell into their hands with current head Jay Shah being the son of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah, have enough music to dance in the streets after Pakistan decided to retreat and go against what they pontificated to stand for, a boycott of the match in solidarity with Bangladesh who were ejected from the tournament only because they asked for a change of venue, from India to Sri Lanka. Having being the only country to side with Bangladesh, Pakistan has much to answer the curious and the purists who in hindsight were taken for a boundary-line ride.

Many cricket followers or more likely entertainment seekers will never know what happened behind closed doors for Pakistan to cave in against its conviction of sticking to their guns and even calling for an alternative caretaker of cricket on the international stage. So will be eluded the circumstances that led to the end of the well-orchestrated drama or boycott.

The ICC if it has the courage and integrity will have to answer why Australia and the West Indies were not ejected from the 1996 World Cup when like Bangladesh they did not want to play their matches in Sri Lanka citing security fears following a deadly bombing in the same way Bangladesh wanted in 2026 after India gave succor to their country’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following her bloody crackdown on protesters. India and Pakistan, two countries at loggerheads over many issues, can play their matches anywhere for the sake of security and money, millions from television revenue. Bangladesh is forbidden.

The Indian-flavoured ICC, as if catering to the ignorant, issues a statement saying Bangladesh will not be penalised for not being among the have to answer why Australia and the West Indies were not ejected from the 1996 World Cup when like Bangladesh they did not want to play their matches in Sri Lanka citing security fears following a deadly bombing in the same way Bangladesh wanted in 2026 after India gave succor to their country’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following her bloody crackdown on protesters. India and Pakistan, two countries at loggerheads over many issues, can play their matches anywhere for the sake of security and money, millions from television revenue. Bangladesh is forbidden. The Indian-flavoured ICC, as if catering to the ignorant, issues a statement saying Bangladesh will not be penalised for not being among the qualified teams for the World Cup. But what is there left to penalise in a team that was already penalised and deprived of their right to play just because they asked for a change of venue. Hanged like a criminal in response.

Does the ICC mean they will pay one of its full members (Bangladesh) participation money for not making their appearance at the World Cup or deprive the replacement country Scotland of their dues and channel it towards Bangladesh? Money, business, politics and treachery have won. Cricket and cricket followers in traumatised Bangladesh have lost.

With the untold riches that can be raked in from an India-Pakistan match, value has won and values have lost.

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