Support to Bangladesh ‘not at the cost of Pakistan cricket’: Ex-players

Pakistan's former cricketers and ex-board officials have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to prioritise national cricket and avoid damaging relations with the International Cricket Council (ICC) as uncertainty continues over the team's participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

The debate follows the ICC's decision that left Bangladesh out of the tournament after its request to move matches from India failed to gain support at an ICC meeting. Pakistan had backed Bangladesh's position, becoming the only country to do so.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has set Friday or Monday as the deadline to confirm whether Pakistan will participate in or withdraw from the World Cup, according to local media reports.

Former Pakistan Test captain Muhammad Hafeez said the PCB should send the national team to the tournament, warning that withdrawal would harm Pakistan cricket. Former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood and former secretary Arif Ali Abbasi echoed the view, saying there was no justification for staying away.

"I can understand Pakistan supporting Bangladesh, but what purpose will the PCB achieve by not sending its team apart from spoiling relations with the ICC and other member boards," Abbasi said. He added that Sri Lanka, which is hosting Pakistan's matches, would also suffer financial losses if Pakistan withdrew.

Mahmood described the PCB's support for Bangladesh as "laudable" but said the board must act sensibly and focus on Pakistan's long-term cricketing interests. He noted that no other cricket board supported Bangladesh's demand at the ICC meeting.

Former Test batsman and ex-chief selector Mohsin Khan also urged the PCB to confirm participation, saying Pakistan's matches were scheduled in Sri Lanka despite ongoing issues with India.

Khan said reports suggested Bangladesh would not challenge the ICC's decision, questioning the basis for Pakistan to reconsider its participation. "It will be bad for our cricket if we don't play," he said.

Former captains Inzamam ul Haq and Muhammad Yousuf called for a balanced decision, stressing the importance of competing in major tournaments. "Our cricket needs to see the team perform well in big events," Inzamam said.

Former Test batsman Haroon Rasheed said Pakistan had taken a principled stance by supporting Bangladesh but added that the PCB must now focus on its own cricketing interests, noting that there was insufficient reason to pull out of the World Cup.