The Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday expressed hope that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would work in the direction of a “mutually acceptable decision” after the federal government denied permission to the nationwide aspect for a match in opposition to India in T20 World Cup 2026.
In a press release, the cricket governing physique famous the federal government’s assertion, by which it mentioned that Pakistan would play the event however skip their sport in opposition to India.
“Whereas the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this place of selective participation is tough to reconcile with the basic premise of a world sporting occasion the place all certified groups are anticipated to compete on equal phrases per the occasion schedule,” the ICC mentioned.
The cricket-governing physique added that such “selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions” constructed on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and equity.
The ICC mentioned that it revered the roles of governments in issues of nationwide coverage, nevertheless, it added that the choice was not “within the curiosity of the worldwide sport or the welfare of followers worldwide, together with tens of millions in Pakistan”.
“The ICC hopes that the PCB will contemplate the numerous and long-term implications for cricket in its personal nation as that is prone to affect the worldwide cricket ecosystem, which it’s itself a member and beneficiary of,” the ICC said.
The cricket-governing physique asserted that its precedence remained the profitable supply of the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026, saying it must also be the duty of all its members together with the PCB.
The assertion follows Pakistan’s announcement that its workforce would take part within the event however would boycott the match in opposition to arch-rival India.
The choice got here following a gathering between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“The Authorities of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Group to take part within the ICC World T20 2026,” the federal government mentioned in a put up on X.
“…nevertheless, the Pakistan Cricket Group shall not take the sector within the match scheduled on fifteenth February 2026 in opposition to India.”
