Cricket has been called a gentleman’s game, but in the past, we have seen many untoward incidents that have tarnished that. Recently, Pakistan created a controversy to boycott their game against India to show support for Bangladesh who had withdrawn from the tournament due to off-field issues with India. This, though, is not the first time that an international country has decided to boycott a match in ICC tournaments. Here are the previous tournaments: -
1. Australia against Sri Lanka (1996 ODI World Cup)
The 1996 ODI World Cup, hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, was filled with controversies from the start. There was civil unrest in Sri Lanka, and just a few days before the start of the tournament, there was a bomb blast in the country, leading Australia to forfeit their match against Sri Lanka. The points were awarded to Sri Lanka. Eventually, both Australia and Sri Lanka reached the final in Lahore which the latter won.
2 West Indies against Sri Lanka (1996 ODI World Cup)
Just like Australia, the West Indies also decided to boycott their fixture against Sri Lanka at their home for the same reason - Civil unrest in the country. West Indies went on to reach the semis of the tournament, where they lost to Australia. With both Australia and the West Indies forfeiting their matches, India and Pakistan fielded a joint team against Sri Lanka before the tournament to show South Asian solidarity.
3. England against Zimbabwe (2003 ODI World Cup)
The 2003 ODI World Cup was hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. Zimbabwe was under Robert Mugabe's administration, and there was a diplomatic standoff between the UK and Zimbabwe, due to which England, led by Nasser Hussain, decided to boycott their game against Zimbabwe. Even Zimbabwe players, Andy Flower and Nasser Hussain, had worn black armbands in their clash against Namibia to ‘mourn the death of democracy in the country’.
4. New Zealand against Kenya (2003 ODI World Cup)
During the 2003 ODI World Cup, New Zealand refused to travel to Kenya to play their fixture against the hosts, citing security concerns. Just a few days before, there had been a bomb blast in an Israeli-owned hotel, which killed 16 people. The Black Caps asked the ICC to shift the venue to South Africa, but the governing body refused, stating that there was no reason to shift the venue, and the match was forfeited.
Now, after 23 years, there is a chance that a game in an ICC event may be boycotted. Do you think Pakistan will go ahead with it? Let us know.
