Boycott Controversy Ahead of the T20 World Cup, Wasim Akram Sends a Strong Message to Pakistan

Even before the T20 World Cup gets underway, global cricket has been thrown into uncertainty amid political tension. Issues surrounding team participation, venues, and security have created a cloud of controversy. No sooner had Bangladesh’s exclusion begun to sink in than talk of a possible Pakistani boycott moved to the center of debate, intensifying discussions across the cricketing world.
Following the decision to exclude Bangladesh, reports emerged in Pakistani media suggesting that Pakistan could withdraw from the World Cup if instructed by the government. However, former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has dismissed the boycott narrative as completely illogical.
He said,
"Why is Pakistan even thinking about boycotting the T20 World Cup? Just because Bangladesh does not want to play! What has Bangladesh done so far for Pakistan cricket? I see no logic in this."
Meanwhile, another former Pakistani star, Mohammad Yousuf, believes that Bangladesh’s absence would significantly hurt the World Cup’s popularity. Highlighting the potential impact on viewership, he said,
"Combined, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Nepal, the Netherlands, Ireland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan will bring 178 million viewers. Bangladesh alone accounts for 176 million viewers."
Yousuf also pointed to security concerns as the primary reason behind Bangladesh’s inability to participate in the World Cup. Despite multiple requests from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to move matches away from India, the ICC refused to change its stance. Questioning the role of cricket’s governing bodies, the former Pakistan batter remarked,
"Bangladesh’s security concerns were ignored. When cricket administration becomes biased, transparency no longer exists. You cannot run cricket through influence. Cricket must be governed by principles."