Bangladesh flag ban against spirit of cricket: Younis

E-Paper | March 19, 2026

KARACHI: Former Pakistani players Wednesday hit out after Bangladesh banned their own fans from waving non-Bangladeshi flags at the ongoing World Twenty20 tournament.

Hosts Bangladesh issued the order after an outcry over images of locals waving Pakistani flags during the recent Asia Cup.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made the ruling on Tuesday, on the eve of the country's 44th independence day.

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad said the move violated the spirit of the game.

“I am surprised at the decision,” Miandad told AFP.

“Cricket is a game which harbours sportsman spirit and this decision violates that spirit.”Another former captain, Mohammad Yousuf, urged the BCB to rethink.

“I am sure that the BCB will take this decision back because it defies logic and I am sure the International Cricket Council will seek some explanation,” Yousuf said.

Yousuf, who played 90 Tests and 288 ODIs for Pakistan, said he had always been warmly received in Bangladesh.

“I have seen the home fans want to support Pakistan whenever their own team is not competing against us,” he said.

Younis Khan, another former captain, agreed Bangladesh should reconsider their decision.

“It is against the spirit of the game as you cannot stop anyone from supporting his favourite team,” he said.

Bangladesh and Pakistan face each other in a potentially crucial World T20 group match in Mirpur on Sunday.

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Saeed

Mar 26, 2014 02:08pm

Banning Bangladeshi cricket fans from waving non-Bangladeshi flags is a naive idea. It is not only against personal freedom but will distort image of Bangladesh overseas, and make ongoing T-20 cricket boring. Next time ICCI will think twice before selection Bangladesh as venue of such international series. Wish Bangladeshi authorities review their decision in the interest of their own people and country.

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zafar Iqbal

Mar 26, 2014 02:43pm

The Awami league can rule in Bangladesh but cannot rule in the heart of Bangladeshi people.so decision of banning non-bangladeshi flags in the cricket ground is unwise and senseless .

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Ravi Dallas TX

Mar 26, 2014 02:44pm

Yes ours is a spotless country how could someone do this to us. Sarcasm aside, there are other political issues Bangladesh is facing that are bigger than the sports, let them handle it their way.They didn't stop Pakistanis to root for their own country, so what's the problem ?

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deen

Mar 26, 2014 02:47pm

When Sri Lanka plays Pakistan and if all Bangladeshis support Pakistan we Sri Lankans will not like it some times it becomes a racial issue. Some times some will not understand how sensitive it is. Its an extremely wise decision and Bangladeshi authorities have realized the issue in a more matured way than Javid Miandad and younis Khan.

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ARIF MUQRI

Mar 26, 2014 03:19pm

This ban is from Sheikh Mujeeb ruling family. There image is already started to downfall. If they will not due then how they can alive in politics.

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Goga Nalaik

Mar 26, 2014 03:35pm

I sincerely deplore this lousy decision of bangladeshi authorities From now on, ICC should not select Bangladesh to host any kind of international cricket event.

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SYEDA SARA BATOOL

Mar 26, 2014 03:41pm

very conservative thought is presented by bangladesh,s haseena wajid she did this all because she is anti-pakistan woman....she should take her decision back,.

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Taimoor khan

Mar 26, 2014 03:58pm

Let be clear about this shall we? This Hasina regime is toxic when it comes to Pakistan and her hatred against our country is too obvious to ignore. Also, she is an extension of Indian influence, our arch rival, inside Bangladesh. This hasina regime behavior should have been checked by GOP long time ago and its is obvious that her political vendetta against the opposition is also directly in conflict with Pakistan as well. She is not even a elected PM anymore. Pakistan needs to take a tough stand against her. We cannot afford to remain silent to this blatant hatred of Pakistan. It is evident that Bangladeshi people have still got warm feeling towards Pakistan and its people which were quite evident in recent Asia cup, this fact boomeranged against her despite her all out efforts to demonize Pakistan and now she cant digest his ground reality. Pathetic attempt now to further isolate herself and her backers outside Bangladesh.

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Zakir ali

Mar 26, 2014 04:05pm

I doubt bangaldeshis want to wave Pakistani flag in the first instance. If at all its true, BCB is right....Just imagine pakistani waving bagladeshi flag in Lahore or Karachi...if at all international match happens there....

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Annie

Mar 26, 2014 04:06pm

@Ravi Dallas TX: the problem is not about pakistanis, indians or bangladeshis. its about freedom.

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gerry d'cunha

Mar 26, 2014 04:29pm

after all both countries (pakistan & bangladesh) are two face of the same coin - one cannot expect any thing different in their nature and habbits

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Imran

Mar 26, 2014 04:34pm

@Ravi Dallas TX: Problem is , you did not make any sense.

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Mar 26, 2014 04:54pm

@deen: You equally mean that in a contest between Sri Lanaka and Australia, you don't want BD fans to support Sri Lanka-what a ridiculous idea it would be if indeed BD fans wants to support Sri Lanka!

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Mar 26, 2014 04:57pm

@deen: That is simply not true. There were enough supporters and Sri Lankan flags in the Asia Cup final. Should home crowds also not wave their own flags now so the visiting team is not 'racially offended'?

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Abdullah N

Mar 26, 2014 05:03pm

Awami League is monopoly of Mujib ur Rahman's family. Haseena, PM of B D,only way she can stay in power, is by keeping hatred against Pakistan alive, she keeps on bringing in past history. Waving Pakistani by anyone is a challenge to her government.

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Umair

Mar 26, 2014 05:09pm

@Ravi Dallas TX: So, you're saying that only Pakistanis should be allowed to support the Pakistan cricket team? What about fans from other nationalities?

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Shahid nawaz

Mar 26, 2014 05:14pm

Bangladeshis not to wave flags of other countries during cricket matches ---- a bad dcision

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Umair

Mar 26, 2014 05:16pm

@Zakir ali: I don't see that being an issue in Pakistan to be honest. I have seen Pakistanis wave flags of all nations including sri lanka, england, india etc when they we were playing a test series against them in Pakistan. Who can forget the 1996 WC Final when there were so many Sri Lankan flags in Qadhafi stadium.

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Zain

Mar 26, 2014 05:21pm

@Ravi Dallas TX: That's funny because i'm sure if Bangladeshis were waving Indian Flags you would be saying something else. It's against the spirit of the game and freedom! Keep politics and sports independent of each other.

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Karimi

Mar 26, 2014 05:23pm

@deen: R u serious ......... get some sense before you speak man... seriously

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Khan

Mar 26, 2014 05:59pm

Cricket is becoming a joke! First big three took control of the game, now boards want to ban flags of other countries. What's next?

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Dystopia

Mar 26, 2014 06:07pm

@deen: So just because someone does not support your country, they become racist? Please stop playing the race card for granted if you cannot differentiate support from racism.

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Dunya

Mar 26, 2014 06:07pm

@deen: Is BCB going to do the same when there is a bilateral series in Bangladesh? Mr. deen is talking out of his senses, he has the same thinking and brain of BCB. It will be a wait and see situation for the ICC reaction.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 26, 2014 06:12pm

Younis Khan, Javed Miandad and Mohammad Younus, the ex skippers of "green-shirts" and cricket legends are 100 percent right. Freedom of choice, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression and freedom of thought are basic and fundamental rights of every human being. These fundamental rights could not be snubbed or ignored by anybody in today's age and time and the Bangladeshi cricket board in general and its government in particular are no exception to this centuries old universal principle. In fact, it is highly astonishing for all freedom loving people and cricketers of the world that why Haseena Wajid government and her cronies are interfering in sports management and organization affairs by using their power, influence, position and resources? On top of that, it is mind boggling for global peaceful supporters of real democracy, freedom, true justice and pursuit of happiness that Ms. Wajid calls herself a champion of democracy. Nevertheless, in essence, she has been instrumental in regularly and consistently using the brutal state force in Bangladesh and other possible places to shun and snub the basic fundamental rights of Bangladeshi citizens to protect, promote and consolidate her vested political interests and agenda. What a shame?

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Sarthak

Mar 26, 2014 06:14pm

Do Pakistanis wave Bangladeshi flag? For that matter do Indians? It's an issue in their country and its not just a sporting issue. I know sports is supposed to kept separate from politics but reality is never that simple, especially in this divided subcontinent. Bangladesh as a nation still has conflict over islamic identity and bengali identity. Many bangladeshis when they support pakistan is not just supporting for sporting reasons but there are other deeper reasons. There is a small section of the population who by means of supporting pakistan tries to show their anti nationalistic feelings. And the bangladeshi government has right to take some measures against that. Finally flags of other nations haven't been banned. So indians, pakistanis and others in bangladeshi stadiums can still waive their flags. It's not a massive issue.

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insomniac

Mar 26, 2014 06:31pm

just wondering here, are we sure the ones who were waiving the flags were bangladeshi people and not the citizen of their own respective countries playing in that match... i doubt bangladeshi people would waive pakistani flags due to the history.... and anyways handful of people can't be the voice of entire populace.... if its a proactive measure that bangladesh authorities feel is sensitive enough then let them do it.. personally i wouldn't liked that, since there could be genuine people supporting other teams too, however who am i to even blame them for what they have gone through.. its their country, their measures, their way of doing.. haven't stopped any non-bangladeshi from supporting their own teams, so whats the fuss.

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british pakistani

Mar 26, 2014 06:36pm

FINE!! what so ever they have taken about, it doesnt make them one of the favourite nation hosting this tournament. Yes! we have hatred against pakistan but we never expected this to be at this level of game. HAHAHAHA! they are taking their people like bushes and sheeps. PLEASE Introduce a law in the name of nationalism, one who will utter The word PAKISTAN. HE WILL BE PUNISHED BADLY. for the sake of fun, let nations enjoy this form of game.

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Shakir Mazumder

Mar 26, 2014 06:46pm

Bangladesh has only banned carrying the flags of different nations on the gallery by its people because this is the national flag rules. There is no obligations for foreigners to carry their own flags on the ground or gallery. Pakistan as a nation and its diplomats shown always intention to talk about others internal matters and doing the same here. The country itself should be very much regretful what they did in 1971 and be respectful on others internal matters.

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AdHawk

Mar 26, 2014 07:13pm

So how exactly are the authorities planning to check for the right flag? Is there a blanket ban on Pakistani flags or are they going to check for citizenship ID from anyone carrying the offending colors? Or can you carry the flags but they'll pounce on you the moment you succumb to the urge to wave?

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Mar 26, 2014 07:19pm

@Ravi Dallas TX: A typical reply from an indian.

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Mar 26, 2014 07:20pm

@Zakir ali: So what? EVeryone should be allowed to wave whatever flag they want and whatever team they WANT to support.

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M. Emad

Mar 26, 2014 07:25pm

Waving non-Bangladeshi flags done by non-Bengali youths. They want to go to their country and by waving flags during international tournaments probably try to catch world attention. Pakistan should take back the stranded Bihari-Pakistanis in Bangladesh. This is not just a cricket matter -- it is a serious humanitarian issue neglected by Pakistan for 43 years.

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ivehadit

Mar 26, 2014 07:39pm

@Ravi Dallas TX:you have a lot to learn about free speech. Surprised to see such views coming from someone living in Dallas.

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ivehadit

Mar 26, 2014 07:41pm

@deen: It's a measure of maturity. I love watching Virat Kohli play, no matter who he's playing. He's an artist.

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AdHawk

Mar 26, 2014 07:52pm

Awami League, continuing the tradition of masquerading as liberal/secular while in reality the biggest purveyor of demagoguery and despotism.

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Zak

Mar 26, 2014 08:02pm

@Zakir ali: Never had a problem with any flag in Pak stadiums and that includes Indian or BD. Indians however arrest and beat up fans for cheering Pakistan and I'm not even going comment on this asinine decision by the Bangladeshis.

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Saad(DXB)

Mar 26, 2014 10:03pm

@Ravi Dallas TX: An Indian commenting on an issue which is none of his business. If you and your country stopped poking your nose into the affairs unrelated to you, you will not have issues with every one of your neighbours (Except for Maldives, which doesn't have problems with anyone)

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Hyder

Mar 26, 2014 11:13pm

@Taimoor khan: You are absolutely wrong when you say that "Some Bangladeshis still have warm feelings towards Pakistan". The fact is almost all Bangla youths strongly hate Pakistan, which is a legacy of pre-1971 history. Only those youths which are stranded Pakistanis (Biharis, which are equivalent to Muhazirs) who rooted for Pakistan in 1971 and continued to remain loyal to Pakistan and are still crying to be repatriated to Pakistan...they are the ones who wave Pakistani flags. They are about a million and are treated as 'second-class' citizens in Bangladesh and are discriminated against and most of them are are members of the banned 'Jamat-e-Islami'. So Pakistanis need not have wrong notions about 'love' from majority Bangladeshis. So the wavers of Pakistani flags are 'stranded Pakistanis' and Bangladesh is justified to curb activities of such people who they consider anti-national.

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Mathew

Mar 27, 2014 12:00am

This is called short-sightedness.Football match between Barcelona and Real Madrid,I support Real Madrid and you Barcelona,watching in a single room on a same television.

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Mathew

Mar 27, 2014 12:01am

This type of decision will create rifts among the family.

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Imran

Mar 27, 2014 01:08am

Growing up in Pakistan, I never knew Bangladesh as a country. But our first contact with Bangladesh and they are showing such low mentality behavior, it makes me wonder what kind of people are they. Lets see what happens, I'm really curious.

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SKhan

Mar 27, 2014 03:50am

It is a poor poor decision and smells of bad blood between the two governments rather than anything else The support of Bangladesh crowd has always been immense whenever Pakistan is playing any team other than Bangladesh which is logical as anyone would cheer for his own country but if they cheer Pakistan in other matches , what is wrong with it? Banning the waiving of pakistani flags will not diminish the love and support of bangladesh people Thank you Bangladesh for your unwavering support

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Mar 27, 2014 04:01am

Bangladesh have made the right move, it has been borne out time and again, that some people who adopt this behavior of unreasonable cheering and flag waving do it because of a hidden underlying insidious agenda. Their motives have nothing to do with sports, all Pakistanis know this, yet go on to make fruitless noises. Your efforts to sound holier than thou are all in vain, the world has woken up to you, we know what makes you tick, and the world will deny you. Bangladesh today is a fast developing nation, with a progressive society, it's Government will not allow you to poison it's citizens. You run the risk of being excluded from future tournaments. This may sound harsh, but it is, in my humble opinion, what the world is thinking, and if you think the ICC will support you in any action then I have got two words for you............."BIG 3". It is your call.......

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Siyam

Mar 27, 2014 04:20am

@ivehadit: Then wave the Indian flag for Virat Kohli

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Siyam

Mar 27, 2014 04:22am

@Mathew: What family you are talking about?

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Siyam

Mar 27, 2014 04:23am

@Imran: To know about Bangladesh read some wiki about 1971.

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Siyam

Mar 27, 2014 04:27am

Hey Pakistanis, how many times you have waved Indian flag for a cricket match? Do Indian play bad? How about England then? I am sure not even for once. Then why are you bothering? Grow up people! Have some respect for foreign flag rules.

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Nab

Mar 27, 2014 06:50am

@Zakir ali: Brother, Its a game mate. I can imagine Pakistanis supporting Banagaldeshi's in Lahore or Karachi. May be its hard for you to comprehend. As a matter if fact we (Group of Friend) supported England in Pindi Cricket ground against Pakistan match. It was all fun. You can have personal choice in sports.

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Nab

Mar 27, 2014 07:06am

Summarises ...... Tarq-e-taaluqaat pe... Roya na tu, na main Lekin yeh kya ke chain se soya na tu, na main ........................................ Adaavatein theen... Taghaaful thaa... Ranjishein theen Magar Bicharne walay main sab kuch tha bewafai na thi...

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rasheed

Mar 27, 2014 08:57am

If India were playing in Pakistan, i would have supported Sachin, Ganguly and Dravid.. my all time favorites... Proud to be Pakistani, never took such decisions...

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insomniac

Mar 27, 2014 10:43am

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Asif

Mar 27, 2014 10:52am

Want to see pakistanis waving Bangladeshi, Indian or Srilankan flags during a neutral match in a Pak venue, which is rarely seen in a highly radical country like Pak. Its against the bangladeshi spirit to waive a non bangladeshi flag, plus its against the law. BCB has just implemented it after ruling issued by the High court. Any pakistani citizen is welcome to carry their flag, no ban against foreigners.

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Khawaja

Mar 27, 2014 11:18am

@deen: Cricket is a sport, it is fan's choice who they choose to support, they are paying to watch the event, any restriction is deterrent for fans, it is a very sad situation, as game of cricket was just getting popular in BD and fans were genuinely enjoying the sport. It was very refreshing to the mass mood swing of spectators as the match progressed. I hope for the sake of the sport in BD they reverse this decision, or ICC will think twice before they allow any international event in Bangladesh again. In the end sport is all about choice.

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Syed Zainul Abedin

Mar 27, 2014 12:40pm

Pakistanis don't have any right to comment on our internal matters. @ARIF MUQRI:

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Syed Zainul Abedin

Mar 27, 2014 12:45pm

I see, only the Pakistanis are raising their voice against this matter. Weird !!!

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Syed Zainul Abedin

Mar 27, 2014 02:46pm

Please read this rule: 9. Use of Foreign Flags in Bangladesh. I.

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Intrepid

Mar 27, 2014 09:36pm

Clearly this is a politically (AL) motivated decision! Not only does this violate the spirit of an internationally acclaimed and followed sport, it also violates a fundamental right of the "fan" to be able to support his or her choice of team(s). Let the individual fan decide who he or she wants to support and allow them the freedom of waving that country's flag. The action of waving "a" country's flag does not and should not label that person(s) as a traitor. Sadly such emotional and immature behavior seems to be quite prevalent and in abundance amongst the South Asian cricket playing countries. This is almost as bad as El Salvador and Honduras going to war with each other over the outcome of a soccer match !!!

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Intrepid

Mar 27, 2014 09:50pm

@Khawaja : Thank you for your balanced comments. I completely agree with you!

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Ben

Mar 28, 2014 06:24am

In keeping with this latest politically motivated round of sheer ostensible insanity, perhaps the BD government, under the ruling of "BD cricket fans can only wave the BD flag", should also add such legislation as "no clapping for any player from an opposing team", "no applause when a player from an opposing side plays well" and most importantly "no clapping when a player from an opposing team enters the playing field". I think this would show a lot of class on the part of the BD fans and the country at large!!!! What dy'a think, guys and gals? Think this kind of dictatorial ruling will make the ruling junta happy ????? The ICI should grow some juevos and tell the BD cricket board to stick it where the sun don't shine!!!! I would love some honest, mature feedback.

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AZHAR AWAN

Mar 28, 2014 07:13am

it is silly and did not reflect about the people of BD. They are our brothers and we love them and they do the same-how you can separate two brothers?

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