Pakistan Boycotts Indias Participation in Cricket World Cup

Pakistan’s Cricket Board Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has made a statement regarding recent attacks in Balochistan, attributing the violence to India. The government of Pakistan has announced that it will not participate in its scheduled match against India in the Twenty20 World Cup.

According to authorities, at least 31 civilians, 17 security personnel, and 145 fighters were killed in coordinated attacks on police stations in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan province on Saturday. The attacks, which are considered the deadliest in decades, have sparked tensions between Pakistan and India.

Mohsin Naqvi has stated that India is behind the attacks, citing a lack of evidence to support his claim. He also referenced recent events involving Bangladesh’s exclusion from the World Cup due to security concerns.

Bangladesh was removed from the tournament after refusing to play its matches in India, which is cohosting the event with Sri Lanka. The International Cricket Council (ICC) cited security concerns as the reason for their decision.

Pakistan has decided to boycott its match against India and will instead compete in all of its remaining games in Sri Lanka. This decision comes amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India over a series of events, including an attack on tourists in April in India-administered Kashmir that India blamed on Pakistan.

The ICC has previously allowed India to avoid playing in Pakistan when hosting tournaments, while also allowing Pakistan to do the same. However, Naqvi has criticized the ICC for what he perceives as “double standards” in their handling of security concerns.

Pakistan will play all of its matches in Sri Lanka instead of India, with the country’s cricket board chairman and interior minister stating that Bangladesh should be allowed to participate in the World Cup despite being removed from the tournament.

Source: Al Jazeera