Senior Indian politician and Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor criticised the politicisation of cricket and said that Pakistan’s boycott to play against India should serve as a wake-up call.
Responding Pakistan’s decision to boycott the match against India in the T20 World Cup, Shashi Tharoor said that Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman should not have been denied the opportunity to play in Kolkata. Denying Mustafizur Rahman the contract was highly unfortunate, and political interference has worsened the situation.
He added that he believes Bangladesh’s reaction was excessive, whereas Pakistan acted in solidarity with Bangladesh.
The Congress leader said that it is regrettable to view sports through the lens of politics. “It is very shameful that the sport has been politicised. The situation is getting out of control, and we need to seriously work toward consensus. Sports, especially cricket, hold great significance for the public,” he said.
He emphasised that sports should bring people closer together, not fuel disputes. This situation is a wake-up call for all concerned parties, and all sides should urgently contact each other to find a solution.
It is worth noting that the ICC T20 World Cup is scheduled in India and Sri Lanka from February 6, with the Pakistan-India match set for February 15. However, yesterday, after meeting PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the national team’s participation in the T20 World Cup but announced the boycott of the match against India.
