This time, that option no longer exists. Although a few days still remain before the World Cup begins on February 7, uncertainty continues. As of yesterday, the PCB has not backed away from its stance on refusing to play India, and the ICC has yet to find a resolution. Some may still be holding on to hope. But it is now clear that this issue can no longer be settled through sporting logic alone. Cricket has moved beyond the boundary ropes—it has merged with politics and transformed into a different kind of game. The bat and ball remain, but the innocent spirit of the sport has faded. What lingers instead is the unmistakable scent of political influence.

This is not entirely new. One only needs to recall the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media post after India defeated Pakistan in last year’s Asia Cup final, describing it as an “operation” on the field.

This is the direction cricket is heading in the post-modern era. Whether you choose to stand by it—or step away—is now up to you.