Karachi:
Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has supported the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision not to send its team to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, citing prevailing circumstances.
Speaking on the issue, Afridi said the BCB’s stance was “justified and understandable” given recent developments. He stressed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) must act impartially and ensure fair arrangements for all participating teams.
“The ICC is not the Indian Cricket Council; it is an international body,” Afridi said, urging the governing authority to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to a neutral venue.
Afridi also commented on ICC Chairman Jay Shah, saying he was committed to the promotion of cricket globally but faced challenges due to a lack of adequate support from within India. He added that the ICC now needed to take a clear and decisive position on the matter.
The remarks come after reports that a Bangladeshi player was released from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following pressure from right-wing groups in India. In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced that it would not send its team to India for the T20 World Cup and formally requested the ICC to shift its matches to another location.
So far, the ICC has not issued an official response to Bangladesh’s request.
It may be noted that Pakistan will also not travel to India for the World Cup and will play all of its matches in Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host.
