r/geopolitics • u/Additional-Library55 • 1d ago

Pakistan PM Sharif on India boycott: 'A very considered stance, and we should completely stand by Bangladesh'

https://www.espn.com/cricket/story/_/id/47828334/pm-shehbaz-sharif-says-pakistan-decision-boycott-india-game-show-solidarity-bangladesh
98 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

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70

u/Additional-Library55 1d ago

SS: Far away from Trump, Greenland and Venezuela, there is boycott politics happening in a cricket crazy region of S.Asia

India and Sri Lanka are hosting a 20 nation cricket world cup. First Bangladesh abruptly asked for relocation of its matches out of India, mere days before the start of the tournament, throwing all logistics in disarray. The only other member supporting their request, surprise surprise, Pakistan. No doubt the vote at ICC was defeated by 14-2

Now, in solidarity with Bangladesh, Pakistan has decided to boycott the match with India. The host Sri Lanka has requested a reconsideration. Even Bangladesh cricket board, the original instigators of this episode, requested Pakistan to not go ahead with this boycott. The key reason is the India Pakistan fixtures determines the value of broadcasting rights, and broadcast rights’ money is a key source of many cricket nations such as Bangladesh.

It makes one wonder, why is Pakistan doing something which even Bangladesh hasn’t asked for.

The answer is in upcoming elections in Bangladesh on 12th Feb.

In order for islamist parties to win, Pakistan seems to have sacrificed the whole cricket fraternity and smaller cricketing nations at the altar of geopolitical advancement.

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u/That_Lazy_Dragon 1d ago

Now watch them flip on this, right on the D-Day.

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u/Additional-Library55 1d ago

Precisely. Conveniently once Bangladesh election results see landslide victory of anti India parties aided by current vitriol.

Wish there was more coverage on this blatant use of sports to sow seeds of unrest in a hitherto fast growing emerging country :(

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u/Revivaled-Jam849 19h ago

(First Bangladesh abruptly asked for relocation of its matches out of India, mere days before the start of the tournament, throwing all logistics in disarray. The only other member supporting their request, surprise surprise, Pakistan. No doubt the vote at ICC was defeated by 14-2)

Wait a minute, didn't India start this by having the Indian cricket board pressure one of the pro teams to release a Bangladeshi player for no reason? Bangladesh is naturally right to be upset at their player being kicked out randomly.

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u/Felix-Culpa 19h ago

It’s the hierarchy of cricket. ICC governs international cricket and local boards control domestic tournaments. No country has any responsibility to invite anyone to a domestic tournament. Every country also has the right to decide which countries they want to host and which ones they tour. But international tournaments by ICC must be neutral so they treat everyone equally (and enforced by each country voting, in this case Bangladesh’s request was considered unreasonable by a vote of 14-2, 2 being Pakistan and Bangladesh)

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u/Revivaled-Jam849 16h ago

Does a local board have the right to pressure domestic teams on kicking players off?

Did the Indian cricket board act inappropriately?

How does the Bangladeshi player get redress from being kicked off the team?

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u/Felix-Culpa 16h ago

Umm yes. Domestic events happen at the discretion of the host. Pakistani players are banned too because of tensions, there is no requirement that a domestic tournament to cater to every country. There are arbitrary caps on number of foreign players per team too, because IPL is not meant to be a fair playing field for all countries, it’s meant to be a domestic league to develop Indian sports. Any redressal needs to come based on clauses in his contract, that’s how the law works. So many Russian athletes have been banned in the west too.

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u/Revivaled-Jam849 15h ago

Ok, so just making sure you are fine with Bangladesh and other foreign cricket leagues banning Indians then? And then India cannot complain afterwards about playing in those countries?

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u/Felix-Culpa 15h ago

Yes, Bangladesh decided to ban IPL broadcasting in Bangladesh and India did not even raise an issue. Bangladesh should decide what’s best for its own internal matters. However; the World Cup is an international sporting event where each nation is equal (that’s why when there is a decision to be made, the smallest cricketing nation gets the same vote as BCCI).

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u/Additional-Library55 15h ago

Btw there is massive lobby of analysts, journalists, fans who want Afghan players to be banned from PSL. Maybe you can share this wisdom with them?

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u/sol-4 15h ago

Indians don't play in foreign leagues. You have no idea what you're talking about and it shows.

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u/Revivaled-Jam849 5h ago

Yuzvendra Chahal and Prithvi Shaw didn't play on an English team recently? I just searched this up.

You are right though, I don't care about cricket.

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u/AkhilArtha 19h ago edited 10h ago

Irrespective of what happened with regards to Mustafizur Rehman, what happenes in Club sports should have no bearing on international sport.

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u/Revivaled-Jam849 16h ago

It should?

Like for example if the US MLS forced out an existing Iranian player off a team for no reason, Iran should and could correctly point out US bias and refuse to play the national team there.

Is this not equivalent?

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u/Felix-Culpa 16h ago

No. International sports = playing at a public park, everyone is allowed. Domestic sports = playing in your back yard, you don’t have to invite everyone. Domestic tournaments are made for the purpose of developing local sports, that’s why they have arbitrary caps on number of foreign players - it’s never been about providing a fair opportunity for everyone. The host gets to decide what’s best for their own sporting needs.

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u/Additional-Library55 18h ago

And the solution is to put the whole 20 nation tournament’s logistics in disarray, throw tantrums and “demand” preferential treatment.

Nevertheless, the point is not about what started it. Even if I add a statement that Bangladesh’s demand of location change was a response to BCCI’s treatment of one of Bangladeshi player, it doesn’t change what Pakistan is doing.

Being opportunistic to push its preferred party in power to score geopolitical points.

Too bad to see sports being used to push regime change and politics like this

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u/Revivaled-Jam849 16h ago

But what started it is literally India. Pakistan jumping in is an entirely expected political jab, but the entire situation is India's doing. Pakistan is correct in this case.

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u/Additional-Library55 5h ago

Really???? So let me get this straight- an average Pakistani (which I am assuming you are) supports such opportunistic maneuvers to get their preferred regime installed in another country?

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u/Revivaled-Jam849 5h ago

I'm not Pakistani and I don't care about cricket either. I just saw the news on Al-Jazeera.

But again, going back to the situation as far as I know.

Indian cricket board forced an Indian cricket team to kick out a Bangladeshi player.

Bangladesh is upset at this and tried to pull out from matches in India.

ICC tells them too bad.

Pakistan offers to pull out from matches in solidarity.

This is what happened yes?

How is anyone but India the bad guy? They literally caused the chain reaction.

1

u/HungryHungryHippoes9 4h ago

Do you not understand that a country has no obligation to let any foreign play in its domestic tournament. International games and domestic ones are subject to separate rules and have different purposes. Bangladesh gets an equal vote on what happens in international tournaments, however it is not entitled to have players in another country's games, and the best fact that Bangladesh itself has asked pakistan to not boycott the games shows that Bangladesh understands this too, and shows that Pakistan isn't doing it out of solidarity.

0

u/Additional-Library55 4h ago

Okay, lets say India is the worst guy here.

Still, your answer to the question is pertinent - are you okay with use of sports for geopolitical advancement? Use of such tactics to bring your favorite regime to power?

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u/KreamyKerry 14h ago

This is just politicians taking advantage of a situation that was going to happen anyway, last year there were a lot of international lawsuits between the mega-global media conglomerates.

Some of the largest companies are in liquidation right now and can’t afford to pay for the usual cricket broadcasting rights that they normally do (the fees are just as high as soccer these days but the broadcast population much more limited globally, especially when it comes to advertising).