Farhan Qureshi 
There is increased pressure on Pakistan participation in the T20 world cup with more voices in the cricketing arena of the country calling on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider national interest first. As the ICC Men T20 world cup will commence on February 7, there is a lot of uncertainty over the position of Pakistan following its support of the demand by Bangladesh to have neutral venues. Critics say that withdrawal would bring ill-fortune to Pakistan T20 World Cup participation, hurt ties with ICC, and bring financial losses to hosts of Sri Lanka where Pakistan will play under the hybrid model.
The former Pakistan cricketers and administrators have made public statements supporting the participation of Pakistan in the T20 world cup, threatening PCB not to pull out because of the Bangladesh row. Pakistan was left as the only full member standing by its position as Bangladesh pulled out of India in protest against being refused to play games in India due to security reasons.
The former PCB secretary Arif Ali Abbasi doubted the advantages of withdrawal saying it would only disharmonize ICC relations. Resonating the sentiments, former captain Mohammad Hafeez and former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood reiterated that the involvement of Pakistan in T20 world cup was a crucial move particularly when none of the other boards stood by Bangladesh.
In the meantime, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf advised that careful consideration should be taken before final decision. Pakistan former chief selector Haroon Rasheed stated that the participation of Pakistan in the T20 world cup would not be withdrawn as there is no compelling ground to withdraw especially when Bangladesh had no chance of carrying the day with the ICC decision.
