“Asif Nazrul Thanks Pakistan for Boycotting Match Against India”


Published: 12:31 5 February 2026
Pakistan has decided to boycott its match against India in the T20 World Cup in support of Bangladesh. On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that the country will not play against India, stating that politics should not influence the playing field and that standing with Bangladesh is a moral responsibility.
Thanking Pakistan for this decision, Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Ministry Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul posted on Facebook on Thursday, “Thank you, Pakistan.” He also shared two important quotes from the Pakistani Prime Minister highlighting their stance.
Sharif further criticized India’s cricket policies as unacceptable, saying Pakistan’s boycott is a protest against Bangladesh being excluded from the tournament. He emphasized, “We fully support Bangladesh. This is a proper and just decision.”
Earlier, Bangladesh had refused to send its cricket team to India citing security concerns and had proposed Sri Lanka as a neutral venue. However, the proposal was rejected due to lack of support in the ICC board meeting. Eventually, Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament, with Pakistan supporting Bangladesh’s inclusion during the board discussions.
Through this boycott, Pakistan has once again shown its support for Bangladesh in the tournament. Cricket observers see the move as a significant signal reflecting both sporting and political ties between the countries.
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