Pakistan postpone T20 World Cup jersey launch amid boycott talk
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup jersey launch was postponed amid uncertainty over the team’s participation and tensions with the ICC over venue decisions.
Today (1 February) in Lahore, many eyes were on the field after the toss of the Pakistan–Australia match.
According to Pakistani media reports, there were plans to unveil Pakistan's T20 World Cup jersey at the Gaddafi Stadium following the toss. However, no such event took place.
Geo News reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has postponed the jersey unveiling ceremony. While the exact reason remains unclear, a source cited "unavoidable circumstances". The development comes amid speculation over a possible Pakistan boycott of the World Cup in protest against what the PCB sees as the ICC's double standards.
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A PCB source told Geo News that the board had planned to unveil the official kit after the toss of the second T20I of the Pakistan–Australia series. The programme, however, was deferred due to those "unavoidable circumstances".
The PCB has criticised the ICC for taking a different stance in Bangladesh's case, despite venues for India–Pakistan matches being changed in the past over security concerns. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said Pakistan is reconsidering its participation in the World Cup in protest against the governing body's double standards. The PCB is expected to announce its final decision on the World Cup on Monday.
According to the schedule, Pakistan is due to begin their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Friday, 7 February. Placed in Group A, Pakistan will also face arch-rivals India, the United States and Namibia. All of Pakistan's matches are scheduled to be played in Colombo. On 25 January, selectors announced a 15-member squad for the tournament. Asked whether the squad announcement confirmed Pakistan's participation, selector Aaqib Javed said their responsibility was to select the team, while the decision to play rested with the board.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, will not take part in this year's T20 World Cup following a government decision. Citing security concerns in India, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had requested that their matches be moved to Sri Lanka, but the ICC rejected the proposal. Scotland have since been included in the tournament in Bangladesh's place.
