Despite clearing its team to participate in the event, the Pakistan government has decided that the national side will not take the field against India
The decision has not sat well in cricketing circles. It has suprised everyone but former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the International Cricket Council (ICC) cannot afford to look the other way.
Pakistan’s move came in the aftermath of the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after the BCB refused to send its team to India citing security concerns. Out of 16 votes by ICC members, only Pakistan backed Bangladesh during the discussions. Now after the ICC stood firm, PCB has chosen to boycott only the India game while continuing with the rest of the tournament. That selective participation, Gavaskar feels, is where the problem lies.
Sunil Gavaskar urges ICC to step in after Pakistan’s last-minute call
Reacting to the development, Gavaskar said the timing of Pakistan’s decision was unacceptable and called for the ICC to intervene decisively.
“Definitely, I think if you withdraw at the last moment, that is an issue. If you withdraw earlier on, that’s another matter altogether. But if you withdraw at the last moment, on the eve of the tournament, then yes, I think certainly the ICC should come in and take some action. I don’t know what action they will take, but I think there are so many other boards involved, so it’s not just going to be one person’s decision. However, it should be something that ensures no other team in the future also considers doing that,” Gavaskar told India Today.
The former opener went a step further, suggesting that the situation could even escalate beyond cricketing sanctions.
The ICC will probably take legal action against Pakistan over the refusal to play against India, but what the result of such an action would be, I can’t say. It is certain that the ICC would be extremely displeased with this decision of Pakistan government, he added.
Pakistan, placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA, will now forfeit two crucial points from the India fixture.
ICC responds to Pakistan skipping IND vs PAK in T20 World Cup
“The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule.
ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions. While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.
The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of.
The ICC’s priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which should also be the responsibility of all its members including the PCB. It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders,” the ICC said in a statement.
