Pakistan’s decision to skip its upcoming T20 World Cup match against India has sparked a range of different reactions in Indian political circles. Shashi Tharoor, Congress' Member of Parliament (MP), said the situation should serve as a wake-up call for everyone involved.

 

While talking to reporters on an Indian TV channel, Tharoor said, "It is pretty disgraceful that sport has been politicised in this way on both sides, frankly. I don't think that Mustafizur [Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman] should have been denied his contract to play in Kolkata. It was most unfortunate, intrusion of politics. I think the Bangladeshi reaction was an overreaction but it is also a reflection of the same and Pakistan is trying to show its solidarity with Bangladesh. This whole thing is spiralling out of control."

 

He added, "I think we need to really need to come to an understanding that sports, especially a sport like Cricket which means so much to all the people, should be a means of bringing us together at least on the playing field, rather than allowing this to go on like this. Let's call off this nonsense. You can't go on like this forever."

 

The controversy started when Bangladesh asked the ICC to move all its matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. The Board of Control for Cricket in India had removed Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL amid threats from Hindu extremist groups. Bangladesh argued that if India cannot secure a single player, it cannot guarantee the safety of an entire team.

 

The ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament instead of addressing the issue. Pakistan called this decision unfair, noting that the ICC had previously given India a separate venue when it refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan said it stands with Bangladesh, calling the denial of the same consideration an injustice.

 

Pakistan had said its participation would depend on the government’s decision. After PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week, the government announced on Sunday that Pakistan’s national team will skip the high-voltage match against India scheduled for February 15.