ICC cautions Pakistan about potential repercussions for ‘selective participation’

The ICC has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) "to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders" following the verdict of the government of Pakistan to boycott the T20 World Cup game against India on February 15.

In a press release issued by the ICC, it has reminded the PCB that the "successful delivery" of the T20 World Cup is a responsibility of all of its member including the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"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 mentioned in its press release.

"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."

Notably, the government of Pakistan on Sunday took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to announce that it had green-lighted the team's participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup, but with a condition that it "shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India."

Pakistan are in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, the Netherlands, Namibia, and the United States of America. They open their campaign against the Dutch in Colombo.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad:

Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq