ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for the elimination of politics from the game, backing the central government’s decision to bar the national team from fielding arch-rivals India in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The Prime Minister, while addressing the Union Cabinet, termed the government’s decision as “appropriate” and shared that it was taken after a collective and careful consultation in response to the politicization of sports.
He said that we have taken a clear stand that we will not play the match against India regarding the T20 World Cup.
He said that there should be no politics in sports. “We have taken this stand after careful deliberation,” he said, adding that it was an “appropriate decision”.
After demanding the 2026 T20 World Cup to be shifted from India to Sri Lanka, he further urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to stand with Bangladesh on the matter of shifting Scotland.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made the decision earlier this month after Indian Premier League (IPL) owner Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released veteran Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad on the orders of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The ICC’s stance on Bangladesh was seen as biased by the Pakistan government, which played a key role in forcing the national team to reconsider its participation in the 20-team mega event scheduled to be held from February 7 to March 8, sources suggested on Sunday.
ICC president Jai Shah’s partial decisions made the International Cricket Council an extension of the Indian cricket board, government sources said.
They added that these biased decisions undermined the principles of fairness and equality, accusing the ICC of applying different standards to different countries in its platform.
Hours later, the ICC in its statement expressed hope that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would work towards a “mutually acceptable resolution”.