A Fervent Appeal for Saving the Honour of Our Motherland

Dear All in the Government of Pakistan
Dear All in the Parliament of Pakistan
Dear All Pakistanis in Pakistan and Abroad

AoA.

Nations (big or small) are known for their honour, dignity & self respect.

65 countries (including Pakistan which had no direct conflict with the USSR) boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics & 14 countries boycotted the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics on principles. Similarly, in 1996 cricket World Cup West Indian and Australian cricket teams forfeited their matches and refused to play in Sri Lanka.

Another World Cup co-hosted by three countries and there was more controversy. This time it was Zimbabwe, under Robert Mugabe’s regime, that was facing heavy political unrest. In such a scenario, then British Prime Minister Tony Blair ordered England to not travel to Zimbabwe. He, however, requested the ICC to consider altering the venue which was denied. Zimbabwe were awarded a walkover and four points. However, unlike Australia and West Indies in the previous edition, the result had a huge bearing on England’s fate.

Both England and Zimbabwe finished with three wins each and a washout in Zimbabwe’s final game against Pakistan meant they qualified for the next round alongside Australia and India.

Similar to England, New Zealand too were apprehensive about travelling to Kenya owing to the security concerns. After multiple meetings with top officials, the New Zealand Cricket board decided to not send their team to Kenya.

As a result, four points were awarded to the African nation. New Zealand did qualify for the Super Sixes but because of the walkover, the Kenyan side had a four-point advantage over the Kiwis. As the format had points carried to the next stage, by the end of Super Sixes, Kenya were placed third with 14 points while New Zealand finished fifth on eight. That meant Kenya qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time.

Pakistan is a giant cricket playing nation having won Champions Trophy 2017, ODI & T20 World Cup winners in 1992 and 2009 respectively and # 1 ranked Test Team in August 2016.

Since, we have tangible proof of FAKE Indian email sent to sabotage entire schedule of foreign team’s visits to Pakistan for many years to come, the honour, dignity and self respect of our motherland demands that we must boycott ICC T20I World Cup matches versus India (for indulging in state sponsored cricket terrorism in Pakistan), New Zealand (for cancelling the tour on baseless and fake threat and NOT cancelling the tour of England by NZ’s Women team despite having received the same type of threat almost at the time in U.K.) and England’s team (for cancelling Just two T20 matches tour without any threat or cogent reasons).

Our boycott will shake up the ICC and SPECIALLY the Indians, who are certainly bound to lose MAXIMUM media related revenue, proof of which can be gauged from the fact that yesterday, when online tickets purchase was sold out within two hours, for the India vs Pakistan match of the ICC T20I World Cup.

Last but not the least, playing the World Cup matches in the UAE with India, New Zealand and England will irreparably damage our dignity, honour and self respect; and in future NO team worth its name, will visit Pakistan, again, in the near and the long run. As such, we all Pakistanis are OATH bound to defend the HONOUR of the motherland must decide against any compromise (for whatsoever reasons) to the contrary.

PAKISTAN PAINDABAD

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore.

Pakistan
6 October 2021