Lawsuit filed against 21-member Pakistan team for hoisting national flag during practice session

There was a huge controversy around the fact that Pakistan hoisted their national flag during their practice session in Mirpur, Bangladesh. And, in the latest turn of events, a lawsuit has been filed against the Pakistan team in Dhaka. The lawsuit has been filed against the full squad which has named 21 players including the skipper of the team Babar Azam.

While Pakistan cricketers hoisted their national flag during the practice session, the countrymen of Bangladesh took it as a political message amid their golden jubilee celebration of the nation’s independence. Though during international or bilateral games, national flags are hoisted traditionally, BCB banned this act back in 2014. BCB restricted the foreign nations to carry their national flag on their soil but they had to take the decision back owing to widespread criticism.

“Different countries have come to Bangladesh innumerable times, many matches have been played but neither party needed to practice burying their national flag on the ground. But why did do that… What does it indicate?” wrote a fan on Facebook.

It is nothing new for us, it is part of the coaching philosophy of Saqlain Mushtaq: Pakistan media manager

However, when the controversy started doing rounds across social media platforms, Pakistan’s media manager Ibrahim Badizi stated that they have been in the practice of hoisting their national flag for a long time. Their practice started during Saqlain Mushtaq’s era and it has been going ever since.

“It is nothing new for us. It is part of the coaching philosophy of Saqlain Mushtaq since he joined the team. He feels by putting up the flag, it serves as an inspiration and motivation for the players,” Pakistan’s media manager said earlier as quoted by Sportstar.

Pakistan are currently in Bangladesh and will kick off their first Test of the two-match series on November 26 in Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Pakistan whitewashed the hosts on their soil in the T20I series and Bangladesh would be keen on making a mark in the purest format of the game. While the first Test begins on November 26, the second one would be played from December 04.