Bangladesh threatened to ban local supporters on Tuesday from stadiums if they were seen carrying the flags of other teams competing in the tournament. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The series is currently being hosted in Bangladesh and earlier on Tuesday the country's cricket board had threatened to ban local supporters on Tuesday from stadiums if they carried the flags of other teams competing in the tournament.
The order had come after an outcry over images of locals waving Pakistani flags during the recently concluded Asia Cup, also held in Bangladesh.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) subsequently took notice of the ban and expressed its concern to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Reaction
Veteran cricket players in Pakistan had reacted critically to BCB's ban.
Former Pakistan team captain Javed Miandad had said that the move violated the spirit of the game.
“I am surprised at the decision,” Miandad had told AFP. “Cricket is a game which harbours sportsman spirit and this decision violates that spirit.”
Another former captain, Mohammad Yousuf, had urged the BCB to rethink.
“I am sure that the BCB will take this decision back because it defies logic and I am sure the International Cricket Council will seek some explanation,” Yousuf had said.
Younis Khan, another former captain, agreed that Bangladesh should reconsider their decision.
“It is against the spirit of the game as you cannot stop anyone from supporting his favourite team,” he said.
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