The ICC wants Bangladesh to support persuading Pakistan.

Even as the T20 World Cup is underway, the International Cricket Council (ICC) appears to be working under relentless pressure. One controversy follows another, keeping cricket’s global governing body constantly on its toes. The latest challenge: persuading Pakistan to play its scheduled match against India. Sources suggest that Pakistan might eventually agree, but negotiations are still ongoing.

Discussions around this sensitive issue dominated conversations yesterday. Adding a new dimension to the talks was a sudden visit to Lahore by Aminul Islam, President of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), on an urgent assignment.

According to sources within Pakistan, Aminul’s trip was aimed at fostering mutual understanding. The sources also hinted at the nature of this “understanding”: since Pakistan had previously decided to boycott the match against India in solidarity with Bangladesh, the ICC is now seeking Bangladesh’s support to bring Pakistan on board. In return, Bangladesh could benefit by mitigating potential losses from missing the World Cup, such as its share of the ICC’s annual revenue and assurances against complications for future foreign team tours to Bangladesh.

In effect, this is being framed as a “mutual compromise.”

Aminul reportedly received an emergency communication late on Tuesday night and departed for Lahore shortly thereafter. According to Pakistani media, he arrived in the city early yesterday morning, where he was welcomed by Salman Nasir, Chief Executive of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The PCB shared a video on its official Facebook page showing the reception, captioned with Nasir’s words: “We extend a warm and sincere welcome to our honoured guest.”

The ICC’s urgent meeting brought together representatives from Pakistan and other member nations, including Bangladesh. The reasons for Bangladesh’s presence were clear: the ongoing T20 World Cup and security-related concerns about playing in India had sparked the discussions in the first place. The negotiations were so extensive that Bangladesh ultimately opted out of the World Cup.

From the start, Pakistan had voiced solidarity with Bangladesh. During ICC voting, Bangladesh received support from Pakistan beyond its expected vote. Pakistani media later reported that Pakistan itself considered boycotting the tournament. While it did participate, the Pakistan government ultimately decided to boycott its February 15 match against India, citing solidarity with Bangladesh.

Indian media reported that the ICC has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to persuade Pakistan to reconsider. Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja of the ICC, representing the Singapore Cricket Association, has been playing a key intermediary role. Before the ICC’s virtual meeting, Aminul Islam also held discussions with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

Table: Key Developments in ICC-Bangladesh-Pakistan Talks

This episode underscores the complex diplomatic balancing act the ICC is navigating amid a politically charged tournament, highlighting how cricket diplomacy extends far beyond the pitch.