Ex-Pak Cricketer Challenges ICC To Ban Pakistan Over Skipping T20 WC India Match

What was supposed to be another blockbuster chapter in the India–Pakistan cricket rivalry has instead turned into one of the biggest controversies ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan’s government has announced that its team will not take on India in their group-stage clash scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, a decision that has immediately sent shockwaves through the cricketing world.

No official explanation has been offered by the government but the move is widely being seen as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh. The Bangladesh team was earlier removed from the tournament after refusing to travel to India for their fixtures and Pakistan’s decision appears to be linked to that episode. While Pakistan is expected to play the rest of the matches in the competition, the absence of the high-profile India clash has sparked intense debate.

The ICC has reacted by urging the PCB to rethink its stance. According to reports, the ICC has also cautioned the PCB about possible long-term consequences if the boycott goes ahead. Among the penalties being discussed is the extreme step of suspending Pakistan from international cricket, a suggestion that has only added fuel to the fire.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has strongly pushed back against the narrative circulating online, questioning why the PCB is being painted as the villain. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali argued that Pakistan is merely responding to precedents already set by India. He recalled how political decisions influenced India’s actions during last year’s Asia Cup, including symbolic moments that went beyond the field. In his view, Pakistan is now being judged harshly for doing what others have done before under government instructions.

Basit Ali also questioned the fairness of the outrage, asking why similar reactions were not seen when India declined to act independently of its government in previous tournaments. He stressed that cricket boards often have limited room to act when national directives are involved and Pakistan’s situation should be viewed through that lens.

Digging into history, Basit Ali pointed out that match forfeits are not new to World Cups. He referenced the 1996 ODI World Cup, when West Indies and Australia chose not to travel to Sri Lanka due to security concerns, losing points but facing no further punishment. He also cited the 2003 ODI World Cup, where England and New Zealand forfeited matches against Zimbabwe and Kenya respectively, again without suffering major sanctions beyond the immediate results.

Using these examples, Basit Ali openly challenged the ICC to take drastic action against Pakistan, questioning whether the governing body was applying different standards this time. He argued that losing points has historically been the only consequence and warned against introducing harsher penalties now.

Basit Ali further raised concerns about communication protocols, asking why the ICC is demanding formal clarification from the PCB when no such written explanation was sought from the BCCI after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy last year. He maintained that the PCB cannot overrule its government and made it clear that the final decision on playing India on February 15 rests solely with Pakistan’s authorities.

As the World Cup draws closer, the controversy continues to grow, leaving fans wondering whether cricket or politics will have the final say.

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