On Saturday, January 24, the former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his ‘ICC treating Bangladesh unfairly’ comments after the BCB boycotted the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
Speaking exclusively to ANI, Wassan criticised Naqvi for indicating that Pakistan may reconsider its participation in the showpiece event after consulting its government officials, calling his statement an act of ‘foolish bravado’.
Furthermore, the former cricketer also asserted that players will suffer collateral damage. On the other hand, he added that politicians will gain political mileage, adding that Pakistan is trying to support Bangladesh.
"I think this is just a bravado, and it's foolish bravado at best to just eyeball ICC and blackmail the whole cricketing world order. I think what they are doing now is just using cricket and their collateral damage players. Who will face the collateral damage? Players will suffer. They don't know anything because they are political capital, so their work will go on. You made a cricket issue and raised your moustache. Because they think that it will be a big brownie point for them see that we have supported Bangladesh," Wassan told ANI.
For the unversed, Naqvi, on Saturday, came out in support of Bangladesh, stating that the apex body had treated them unfairly by removing a major stakeholder just two weeks before the campaign.
"Bangladesh has been treated unfairly. I said the same in the board meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC). You cannot have double standards, where one country can make whatever decision whenever and do the total opposite for another country. That is why we have taken the stand that Bangladesh is being treated unfairly and should be allowed to play the World Cup in any case. They are a major stakeholder, and this injustice should not be done," Naqvi told the media on Saturday.
On Saturday, the ICC officially announced that Bangladesh will no longer compete in the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to participate in the tournament per the published match schedule.
Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!
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“It's foolish bravado” - Ex-Indian cricketer slams PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi for his ‘boycott’ comments
“Mohsin Naqvi’s boycott comments are foolish bravado” – Ex‑Indian cricketer hits out at PCB Chief after he suggested Pakistan could skip Champions Trophy 2025. Full reaction, political vs cricket divide & ICC fallout.
On Saturday, January 24, the former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his ‘ICC treating Bangladesh unfairly’ comments after the BCB boycotted the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.
Speaking exclusively to ANI, Wassan criticised Naqvi for indicating that Pakistan may reconsider its participation in the showpiece event after consulting its government officials, calling his statement an act of ‘foolish bravado’.
Furthermore, the former cricketer also asserted that players will suffer collateral damage. On the other hand, he added that politicians will gain political mileage, adding that Pakistan is trying to support Bangladesh.
"I think this is just a bravado, and it's foolish bravado at best to just eyeball ICC and blackmail the whole cricketing world order. I think what they are doing now is just using cricket and their collateral damage players. Who will face the collateral damage? Players will suffer. They don't know anything because they are political capital, so their work will go on. You made a cricket issue and raised your moustache. Because they think that it will be a big brownie point for them see that we have supported Bangladesh," Wassan told ANI.
For the unversed, Naqvi, on Saturday, came out in support of Bangladesh, stating that the apex body had treated them unfairly by removing a major stakeholder just two weeks before the campaign.
"Bangladesh has been treated unfairly. I said the same in the board meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC). You cannot have double standards, where one country can make whatever decision whenever and do the total opposite for another country. That is why we have taken the stand that Bangladesh is being treated unfairly and should be allowed to play the World Cup in any case. They are a major stakeholder, and this injustice should not be done," Naqvi told the media on Saturday.
On Saturday, the ICC officially announced that Bangladesh will no longer compete in the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to participate in the tournament per the published match schedule.
Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!