Will Team India Boycott Pakistan In World Cup After WCL Snub? Salman Butt Dares BCCI
What was expected to be a nostalgic face-off between cricketing legends turned into a diplomatic flashpoint. The game, slated for Sunday in Birmingham, was scrapped just hours before the toss, prompting accusations, finger-pointing, and some stinging commentary from the Pakistani camp.
Salman Butt's Explosive Reaction: "Now Don't Play in World Cup or Olympics Either"
Leading the charge was former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, who lambasted the Indian contingent for their decision to pull out. In a hard-hitting video on his YouTube channel, Butt accused India of politicizing sport and challenged them to maintain the same stance across all major events—including ICC tournaments and even the Olympics.
'Make this a promise now,' Butt declared. 'If you're boycotting here because of politics, don't face us at the World Cup, don't compete in the Olympics. Let the world see how consistent your nationalism really is.'
Butt's comments have since gone viral across social media, fueling widespread discussion about the limits of sporting diplomacy and whether political decisions should dictate team participation in international fixtures.
The Fallout: Pressure, Patriotism, and Public Sentiment
The Indian players' decision to back out reportedly stemmed from the public backlash following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which triggered a strong military response from India via Operation Sindoor. Key figures including Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan are said to have withdrawn in solidarity, unwilling to be seen sharing a field with their Pakistani counterparts.
While WCL organisers issued an apology, stating they had 'unintentionally caused discomfort' to Indian players, the damage was already done. What was meant to be a celebration of cricketing nostalgia quickly escalated into a diplomatic drama.
Expert Take: National Identity vs Global Sporting Spirit
From a broader lens, this episode raises critical questions: Should political tensions override sporting commitments? Can India-Pakistan matches exist in a vacuum, untouched by the historical baggage they carry?
Analysts believe this controversy is just the tip of the iceberg. With major tournaments like the Asia Cup, ICC T20 World Cup 2026, and even the Champions Trophy 2025 on the horizon, calls for an official stance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are growing louder.
'Consistency is key,' said one cricket analyst. 'If India refuses to play Pakistan at one level, they'll face mounting pressure to do the same at all levels. But that also risks isolating cricket from global diplomacy, where such matches often act as soft-power engagement tools.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
13 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
India refuse to 'shake hands' with England after Ben Stokes offers to call off Manchester Test; Jadeja, Crawley argue
What began as a herculean effort for a hard-fought draw in Manchester threatened to boil over in its final moments, as Ben Stokes' offer to settle for a draw with 15 overs remaining in the day's play was first met with a polite refusal, and then a stormy fallout. With India well ahead on 386/4 after 138 overs and a lead of 75, the match was headed towards an inevitable draw. But the Indian camp had other ideas. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar turned down Ben Stokes' offer for a draw(X) Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, both nearing their centuries, didn't budge when Stokes walked up to suggest calling it off. In fact, they asked to carry on. The England captain, visibly bemused, shook his head in disbelief and trudged back, muttering under his breath. Moments later, the stump mic caught Harry Brook and Zak Crawley getting into a verbal exchange with Jadeja over the handshake snub. Tensions flared. Drinks were taken, but the tensions remained on the field. While a result was out of question, the Indian duo wanted to stay at the crease for the hard-fought centuries which they deserved; however, the English players were not in the mood to stay for the duo's milestones, which showed in their expressions. England had bowled 138 overs in draining conditions, and a prolonged spell under the sun failing to reap rewards only piled onto the fatigue. Jadeja and Sundar, meanwhile, looked composed and determined, extending their stand over 170. Earlier, Shubman Gill produced a gritty knock under extreme pressure, scoring 103, while KL Rahul smashed 90 to bail India out of a tricky situation on Day 4. The visitors were left reeling at 0/2 while trailing by a mammoth 311; however, Rahul, alongside the Indian captain, produced a gritty display to not only see away the tricky phase but stabilise the Indian innings. Duo slams century, Test ends in a draw Soon enough, both Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar slammed their respective centuries, with the former also producing his trademark sword celebration after reaching the three-figure mark. England, displeased with being turned down, decided to introduce part-time spinner Harry Brook into the attack, seemingly in an attempt to end the match quickly. The deliveries from Brook were dubious, too, as he bowled multiple full-tosses, with Jadeja smashing them away for boundaries. With the Manchester Test ending in a draw, the English team continues to lead 2-1. However, the result ensured India travel back to London with a chance to level
India.com
13 minutes ago
- India.com
How much salary is paid by bankrupt Pakistan to Army Chief Asim Munir? The amount is SHOCKING! It is Rs…, is it more than Indian Army Chief's salary?
Asim Munir (File) Pakistan Army Chief Salary: Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, who elevated himself to the position of Field Marshal after falsely proclaiming 'victory' in the recent India-Pakistan conflict, is the de-facto ruler of the country, while the civilian government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is little more than a puppet regime, designed to be subservient to the Army. But how much does Field Marshal Asim Munir officially earn in monthly salary? Let us find out. What is the salary of Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir? Its an open secret that the Pakistan economy is in complete ruin, yet its Army, especially the top brass live a lavish lifestyle comparable to the world's richest, while the masses struggle to find two square meals a day. In terms of salary, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir receives a monthly salary of PKR 250,000, which is equivalent to about Rs. 75,000, a meagre amount compared to his Indian counterpart General Anil Chauhan, who earns a monthly salary of Rs 250,000, which equals to about 8.25 lakh in Pakistan Rupee (PKR). Thus, the Indian Army Chief earns three times more salary than the Pakistan Army Chief, showcasing the vast gulf in the economic strength of the two countries. Does Asim Munir get any additional facilities after Field Marshal elevation? While Asim Munir's salary remains the same, the post of Field Marshal is considered the highest in any army, and thus accompanied by a multitude of perks and facilities. The new title comes with top-of-the-line facilities including a posh government bungalow, additional security, cars, medical facilities, and lifelong pension. Notably, Army Chief is considered the most powerful figure in Pakistan, even ahead of the Prime Minister, and this was evident when US President Donald Trump recently hosted Asim Munir for a luncheon at the White House, a privilege usually reserved for Heads of State. Meanwhile, apart from the salary, the Pakistan Army chief enjoys certain other perks that accompany the top post, including free membership in elite clubs, a lavish private bungalow, additional security, government-funded transport, Additionally, the Pakistan Army owns several businesses as a corporation, including dairy and transport firms, which adds to the income of Army Chief General Asim Munir and other top brass of the Pakistan Army.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
13 minutes ago
- Business Standard
ENG vs IND: Jadeja, Sundar heroics help India force gritty draw in 4th Test
Team India have managed to fight out a draw in the 4th Test against England at the Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester as they take the series to the 5th and final Test in Kensington Oval now. The sereis remains 2-1 in the favour of England but with India having a chance to draw the series in the final attempt. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar's gritty yet eventful 203-run partnership did the trick in the end for the visitors as England couldn't pick 8 wickets on the final day of the encounter to seal the series. Brilliant effort put in again by both the sides who fought till the last hour and saw players picking up niggles along the way because of the demands of the Test match that tested the players both physically and mentally in the course of the 5 days. England opting to bowl first The match started with English skipper Ben Stokes winning the fourth toss in a row in the series and opting to bowl first. However, to their surprise, India started the match in promising manner, adding 94 runs for the first wicket before KL Rahul (46) lost his wicket to Chris Woakes. Yashasvi Jaiswal (58), Sai Sudharsan (61) and Rishabh Pant (54) all hit brilliant half-centuries, followed by gusty cameos from Shardul Thakur (41) and Washington Sundar (27), which helped India post 358 runs on the board before being bundled out. Ben Stokes was England's best bowler with a spell of 5 for 72 to his name. England's dominance with the bat In reply, England showcased pure dominance as their top three, Zak Crawley (84), Ben Duckett (94) and Ollie Pope (71), despite missing out on Test tons, put England in a commanding position before Joe Root (150) and Ben Stokes (141) ripped apart the Indian bowling line-up, as England finished their innings at 669 before losing all 10 wickets. The hosts took a huge lead of 311 in the first innings, putting India in danger of an innings defeat. Gill-Rahul paving the way for a draw India's start in the second innings was exactly the opposite of the first, as they lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan, both on a duck, in the first over itself. But just when the game looked all but done for India, KL Rahul, along with skipper Shubman Gill, led one of the best fightbacks in Test cricket, adding 188 runs for the third wicket before Rahul was dismissed by Ben Stokes on 90. Skipper Gill went on to score his fourth Test hundred of the series but was then dismissed by Jofra Archer on 103, as India found themselves in a tough spot after a brilliant fightback. However, the two Indian all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar then took charge and stitched a century stand for the fifth wicket, to not only take India past the 311-run mark to avoid an innings defeat but also push the match further towards a draw. Jadeja-Sundar's 203-run stand does the job for the visitors The final session then saw both batters take the run scoring up a notch and get the score past 350 on the day as well. With almost an hour of play left in Manchester, it is at that point that both captains shook hands and decided to call this riveting tie a draw. The control percentage between the two batters was up to 92% in the final session despite of experiencing more turn in the middle. This just shows the level of grit and determination between the two batters to take their team through to the finish line. Both batters were given the chance to complete their hundreds with Sundar scoring his maiden Test ton as well as both Stokes and Jadeja were then seeing shaking hands to call it a day in what was a riveting test match in Manchester. Shubman Gill and co. go to Kensington Oval with the thought of levelling the 5-match series in the final Test now. India 2nd Inning 425-4 (143 ov) CRR:2.97 Batter R B 4s 6s SR Yashasvi Jaiswal c J Root b C Woakes 0 4 0 0 0 KL Rahul lbw b B Stokes 90 230 8 0 39.13 Sai Sudharsan c H Brook b C Woakes 0 1 0 0 0 Shubman Gill (C) c JL Smith b J Archer 103 238 12 0 43.28 Washington Sundar Not out 101 206 9 1 49.03 Ravindra Jadeja Not out 107 185 13 1 57.84 Extras 24 (b 14, Ib 2, w 2, nb 6, p 0) Total 425 (4 wkts, 143 Ov) Yet to Bat Rishabh Pant,Shardul Thakur,Anshul Kamboj,Jasprit Bumrah,Mohammed Siraj Fall of Wickets 0-1(Yashasvi Jaiswal 0.4),0-2(Sai Sudharsan 0.5),188-3(KL Rahul 70.2),222-4(Shubman Gill 87.4) Bowler O M R W NB WD ECO Chris Woakes 23 4 67 2 1 0 2.91 Jofra Archer 23 3 78 1 0 0 3.39 Brydon Carse 17 3 44 0 4 1 2.59 Liam Dawson 47 11 95 0 0 0 2.02 Joe Root 19 2 68 0 0 0 3.58 Ben Stokes 11 2 33 1 1 1 3 Harry Brook 3 0 24 0 0 0 8
