KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has supported the government’s decision to boycott the national team’s group stage match against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 to be held in Sri Lanka on February 15.
Afridi took to social media platform X to reiterate his long-standing belief in cricket as a unifying force, saying that sport has the power to “open doors when politics closes them”.
“I have always believed that cricket opens doors when politics closes them. It is sad that Pakistan did not play India in the T20 World Cup, but I stand behind my government’s decision. Now is the time to lead and prove by results rather than statements that the ICC promises to be fair,” Afridi wrote.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s government confirmed that its national men’s cricket team will participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, but will withdraw from the group-stage game against arch-rival India on February 15.
The decision is aimed at applying financial pressure on the International Cricket Council (ICC), which was criticized last week by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi for exhibiting “double standards” and being influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The announcement came shortly after an important meeting between Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Naqvi concluded.
Naqvi met the prime minister last month to discuss Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup and hinted that a final decision would be announced by either January 30 or February 2.
Pakistan’s reconsideration of participation in the 20-team mega event scheduled to begin on February 7 followed the ICC’s decision last month to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (PCB) refused to tour India.
Earlier this month, the BCB refused to comply with the BCCI’s directive after Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released veteran Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad.
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