An Indian sports journalist has applauded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for being unexpectedly strong and brave during the midst of the storm regarding the participation of Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in India.
A respected sports journalist in India, Vikrant Gupta, expressed his views as a rift grew over the possibility that Pakistan may decide not to send their team to India for the T20 World Cup, along with doubts from the side of Bangladesh too. While appearing in an Indian television talk show, Vikrant explained that the PCB is now surely moving in a different manner than they used to.
“For the first time, someone from the PCB has come out and said we’re ready to look them in the eye and stand our ground,” Gupta said. “Look at that man! You have to admit, this man does not look scared at all.”
Gupta also brought to notice the fact Naqvi is publicly supporting the idea of not sending the Pakistani squad to Indian soil if their reservations are not met, and further added that the PCB chief is even holding back on their preparation for the World Cup. According to various reports and sources, everything related to the training and preparations regarding the Anjuman-e-Haider scheme is held back by Naqvi.
Mohsin Naqvi is very emphatic, contrary to what he finds to be a lack of decisive action from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. He has drawn a distinction between the two boards, stating that the Pakistanis are definitely taking a stand, whereas the Indian cricket administrators are taking a stand through mere tokenism.
“On our side, the presence of officials in suits is only to witness the match,” he said, disapproving of the mixed signals. Gupta wondered why the Indian government was telling players to avoid shaking hands or hugging Pakistani players, yet carrying business as usual.
Gupta also reported that Imran had further condemned BCCI officials for using “rhetoric instead of doing anything practical.” Gupta wrote, “They make big statements that they will give a fitting reply or this and that, but otherwise nothing happens, and this does not in any way contribute to ironing out differences between both cricketing nations.” The comments come at a time when cricketing ties between Pakistan and India remain strained, with bilateral series suspended for more than a decade and participation in multinational tournaments frequently becoming a subject of political and administrative dispute. While the ICC has yet to make a final announcement regarding contingencies for the T20 World Cup, Naqvi’s assertive posture has drawn attention on both sides of the border, underscoring the complex intersection of sport and geopolitics in South Asia.
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