How PCB, ICC, BCB reach resolution on T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan
BCB’s withdrawal on the pretext of security – fueled by all the social media angst – gave the PCB an opportunity to play the role of agitator. The PCB took advantage of a scenario that did not concern them and gave way to a controversy that was not there. Anyone who has followed the cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan since 1971 will know the “why” of what happened.It was here that ICC Chairman Jay Shah, along with senior representatives of the governing body’s board members, met to sort out the mess. Shah’s office has tasked senior ICC officials to hold talks with the PCB and help them understand what is at stake. The chairman’s office had only one priority – to ensure that cricket did not suffer.“Bangladesh’s absence is regrettable. But it does not change the ICC’s commitment to them as a major cricketing nation. It remains a priority ecosystem and cannot be defined by any short-term disruption,” ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said.As for Pakistan and the general issue of security, we are talking about a country that no major international cricket nation – including Bangladesh – has agreed to tour with between 2009 and 2022 due to security concerns. During these years BCB categorically refused to tour Pakistan. BCB postponed their 2012-13 tour plans.In 2018, Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan was again called off due to security concerns. In 2021, the planned series was canceled following a court order in Dhaka due to unrest among players and officials.“It is a bit rich of Pakistan to stand in solidarity with the country in a matter that does not concern them. Given the context and their cross-border dispute with India, where is the surprise? No other member board has been a party to the stance taken by the PCB,” say those watching the development.Why India vs Pakistan was able to move to a neutral venue but India vs Bangladesh was not, it is because the India vs Pak game has its own economic value and is, collectively, the reason why a tournament like the Asia Cup even survives. The clash between India and Australia falls under the same economic category for various reasons. India vs Bangladesh does not.Given the intractable issues between the neighbours, cricket has only two options – either allow the idea of a neutral venue as a long-term exclusive option, or abandon this valuable clash. This is why a long-term solution was agreed between the two councils that India would not play in Pakistan and Pakistan would not play in India, with the ICC chairman personally signaling the move.Otherwise, abandoning a clash of such proportions would mean that countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan – and even Pakistan – would lose massive revenue.If anything, this episode taught the cricketing ecosystem of the subcontinent one important lesson – India vs Bangladesh is not the same as India vs Pakistan. And that’s the only reason why Pakistan plays India and Bangladesh doesn’t.