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ICC can not punish Pakistan: Pakistan’s decision not to play against India in the ICC T20 World Cup was based on government directives. Ex-Chairman of ICC and Ex-Chief of Pakistan Cricket Board Ahsan Mani justified this decision saying that no action can be taken against PCB.
There is controversy over whether the match between India and Pakistan will be played in the ICC T20 World Cup. The PCB has decided to defy the government’s decision and not play the match. Former International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Ahsan Mani has expressed his opinion on this matter. He said that the ICC cannot punish Pakistan for boycotting the ICC T20 World Cup group stage match against India. This decision was taken at the direction of the Government and hence it is outside the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Governing Body.
Pakistan had announced that it will not play in the high-profile match against India in Colombo on February 15. The government had earlier approved the participation of the national team in the remaining matches of the tournament starting on February 7. In a statement released on social media, the Pakistani government said it had allowed the team to play in the tournament, but also clarified that it would not play in the match against India.
Mani told Sportsstar, “If Pakistan follows the government’s instructions, no sanctions can be imposed on it. That was the basis on which India refused to play the 2025 Champions Trophy match in Pakistan. You cannot adopt double standards. Instead of solving the problem, the ICC remains a silent spectator.”
Mani said that this situation has opened the way for governments to influence cricket decisions, especially when the PCB chairman is himself a minister in the Pakistan government. The ICC has questioned the Pakistan government’s decision and warned that selective participation could lead to punitive consequences. The governing body said it has yet to receive any official communication from the PCB, but termed the move against the principles of a global sporting event.
In a statement, the ICC said, “The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the long-term and significant implications for cricket in its home country, as it may affect the global cricket ecosystem of which it is a member and beneficiary.” Acknowledging the role of governments in national policy, the ICC said the decision was not in the interest of the global game or fans around the world, including Pakistan.
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