Pakistan has made a U-turn on its decision not to play the T20 World Cup against India. Now, reports are emerging that Pakistan capitulated to the ICC for its own benefit. According to news agency PTI, the ICC had promised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) an exemption for playing against India, but details of this exemption will only be made public after the T20 World Cup.
The ICC has already announced that it will not take any action against the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for not playing in the T20 World Cup. Furthermore, there has been talk of Bangladesh hosting an ICC tournament between the 2028-31 cycle. Pakistan had refused to play against India, citing support for Bangladesh.
How Pakistan made the U-turn
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had announced that his national team would not play the group stage match against India in the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan took this decision in protest of the decision to exclude Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup.
Despite the decision, behind-the-scenes negotiations continued, and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the BCB urged Pakistan to withdraw its boycott.
The PCB also met with the ICC, and as pressure mounted, the Pakistani government on Monday night directed its national team to play the match against India.
A PCB source stated that any exemptions the ICC provides to the PCB for withdrawing the boycott will be made public after the T20 World Cup.
Another source stated that the Sri Lankan President played a key role in the decision to withdraw the boycott.
Will there be another boycott if they clash again in the World Cup?
The PCB has also given its national team the green light to play in matches if India and Pakistan play outside the group stage of the T20 World Cup. Another source stated that the Prime Minister is also the patron of the PCB. He was briefed on what Pakistan could gain if the government issued a notification not to play against India. The source said the ICC now has a clear understanding with Naqvi that no details of discussions with the PCB, Bangladesh Cricket Board, and some other boards will be made public.
Pakistan's Revenues to Increase
There was also speculation that Naqvi was pushing for an increase in the PCB's share of ICC revenue. However, another insider clarified that this would only be possible after the ICC Board's approval for the next financial cycle. The source said that during the discussions, Naqvi pointed out that there was no reason not to play home and away matches between Pakistan and India at neutral venues under the ICC World Test Championship, as both teams already play in other ICC limited-overs tournaments. However, there is a catch. The World Test Championship final is the only direct ICC tournament, while all other series played for it are bilateral series for which points are awarded.
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