Kamal Ghorui
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday said that the announcement of the T20 World Cup squad does not mean Pakistan has decided to take part in next month’s ICC event.Naqvi repeated that the PCB is still waiting for a green light from the Pakistan government before taking a final call on participation in the T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday removed Bangladesh from the tournament and named Scotland as their replacement after the Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns following Mustafizur Rahman’s exit from the IPL.“We are waiting for the government’s advice and whatever the government tells us to do we will do it. If they don’t want us to go for the World Cup, we will follow it,” Naqvi told Pakistan players and head coach Mike Hesson during a meeting held after the squad announcement.Pakistan on Sunday named a 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, led by Salman Ali Agha.Doubts over Pakistan’s participation also came up during the squad announcement press conference on Sunday. When asked about Pakistan’s chances of playing in the World Cup, chief selector Aaqib Javed said, “As players and management, we are preparing for the World Cup, and it is up to the PCB and government to take aMeanwhile, during the meeting, Naqvi explained the PCB’s position on Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament due to their refusal to travel to India over security concerns.In a later statement, the PCB said the players supported the board’s stand backing Bangladesh.Naqvi also told the players that Bangladesh’s decision not to play matches in India was a principled one.“We firmly reject the double standards of the ICC,” Naqvi was quoted as saying in the PCB statement, as cited by news agency PTI, adding that the game should be run within the spirt and principles of the game.Naqvi also reminded the players about expectations from fans ahead of the home white-ball series against Australia and the World Cup, and asked them to perform to the best of their ability.
