The International Cricket Council has said it is concerned about the decision of the Pakistan government to instruct its national team to participate in only a select few matches in the 2026 ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
The ICC made the statement shortly after the Pakistani government announced that it had decided to boycott the February 15 World Cup match against India.
The ICC pointed out that it has not yet received an official notification from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in this regard, and the ICC said that the decision of “selective participation” is not in line with the basic idea that all qualified teams in a world-class sporting event should participate equally according to the scheduled schedule.
ICC tournaments are built on the integrity, competitiveness, stability and fairness of the game, and such selective participation would damage the spirit of the tournament, the ICC said in a statement.
While the ICC respects the role of governments in matters of national policy, the ICC is of the opinion that this decision is not in the best interests of global cricket or the welfare of cricket fans around the world, including millions of fans in Pakistan.
As this decision could have an impact on the global cricket system, the ICC further stated in its statement that the Pakistan Cricket Board, as a member, should consider the long-term consequences for cricket in its country.
The ICC’s priority is to successfully host the World Cup, and the ICC said that this should be the responsibility of all members, including the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The ICC hopes that Pakistan Cricket Board will work towards a mutually acceptable solution that protects the interests of all stakeholders.
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