Article:
Former Pakistani cricket captain Shahid Afridi has termed the country’s decision to boycott the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as a crucial test for the International Cricket Council (ICC). In a statement on social media platform X, Afridi expressed his support for the government’s decision not to participate in the tournament against India.
“I have always believed that cricket can open doors that politics can shut,” Afridi said. “However, I am sad to see that Pakistan will not be participating in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against India.” Afridi stated that he respects the government’s decision and is standing with the country’s stance.
Afridi also used the opportunity to call upon the ICC to demonstrate its impartiality and fairness by taking practical steps rather than just issuing statements. “Now is the time for the ICC to show that it is a neutral, independent, and impartial body,” he said.
As the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 7, the Pakistani team will miss out on playing against India, along with Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States in their group. The Indian cricket team, on the other hand, will proceed with their schedule, including a match against Pakistan on February 15 at the stadium.
Former Indian captain Kapil Dev has also weighed in on the situation, stating that decisions like this are made in accordance with government and cricket board policies. The ICC Under-19 World Cup has already been won by India, while the Asian Under-21 Snooker Championship is underway in Qatar, with Pakistan’s Ahson Raheem and Iran’s Shahin Sabzi facing off in the final.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani cricket team has been training at the Sindh Sports Complex in Karachi, with batsman Max O’Dowd of the Netherlands stating that he believes it will be a challenging task to defeat Pakistan. The semi-finals of the tournament saw England defeat Australia and India beat Afghanistan.
Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha has said that the team is not under pressure to perform well in the early matches, with Cricket Australia also confirming the same. Former Pakistani cricketers Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Bazid Khan, and Ramiz Raja will be providing commentary for the World Cup.
In a separate development, the Sindh government has canceled a cultural night music program in solidarity with the victims of the Islamabad bombing. The bombing, which occurred on January 31, has claimed several lives, including a cousin of the Inspector General of Islamabad.
