PCB sets the ball rolling

Having already lost its historical reputation as a game of gentlemen rooted in etiquette, fair play, justice and camaraderie, cricket has regressed further – from a sport with the potential to bind communities and nations to one that serves as a battleground for political point scoring. Truth be told: it's the deep-seated Indo-Pak rivalry that is taking its toll on a world-popular sport that is supposed to ensure a healthy contest to be fought with sheer sportsman spirit and to end in solidarity, irrespective of the result. However, it is also true that it is India that has triggered an unsporting tit-for-tat duel with Pakistan – by refusing to set foot on Pakistan soil for any bilateral or multilateral contests on the flimsy pretext of security, avoiding pre- and post-match handshakes and declining to receive a winning trophy from a top cricket-office holder just because he happened to be a Pakistani.

Pakistan – by announcing forfeiting its round match against India, scheduled for 15 February 2026 as part of the ICC World T20 contest to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka – is only acting in a much-needed reaction. And by the way, it is doing so under reasonable grounds – to express solidarity with Bangladesh which has been sidelined from the world contest by the ICC and replaced with Scotland. Bangladesh's fault? It had refused to travel to India due to genuine security concerns arising from the ugly IPL episode involving Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman, and demanded a neutral venue for its matches. Bangladesh's demand was not without a precedent. In fact, it was India itself that had refused to tour Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy last year on the same security reasons, despite being assured a presidential-level security by PCB. The ICC then had to budge to the pressure from an influential Indian cricket board – only to see hybrid hosting model becoming a norm in cricket.

It needs no proof that the Indian cricket board's decisions and actions are strategised in pursuit of the hegemonic designs of its Hindutva-driven government – and quite successfully at that, given the power and influence it enjoys in the world of cricket. It was indeed time for somebody to say enough is enough. The PCB thus put its foot down so as to stop India from further sullying what used to be a luminous image of cricket for political gains. Pakistan's reaction - though short of a total pullout – does carry consequences. But the PCB seems prepared for any eventualities so long as its decision help cleanse cricket of bigwig bossing and ensure level-playing field for all. By the way, Pakistan can afford to go the risky way. Despite all its unpredictability, Team Pakistan is a brand – an exciting bunch of talented cricketers, whose on-field exploits contribute to making cricket a glorious game of uncertainties. Any doubts? Just look at how we whitewashed the mighty Australians in a three-game T20I series this past week!