Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s statement on Pakistan’s stance to boycott India game

By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: The Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif has issued a statement on the country’s last Sunday’s decision that it will not play its February 15 game of the ICC T20 World Cup against India.
While addressing his cabinet members on Wednesday the prime minister said they should stand by Bangladesh who was deprived by the ICC from featuring in the World Cup after it rejected its request that its matches of the global event should be moved from India to Sri Lanka due to security issues.
“We have taken a clear stand relating to the T20 World Cup that we will not play our game against India,” Sharif told a meeting of cabinet members.
“Pakistan said that it’s the field of sports, not politics. There should be no politics in sports. We have taken a well-thought-out stand and in this connection we should stand by Bangladesh completely,” the prime minister said.
The ICC Executive Board had rejected Bangladesh’s request with a 14-2 majority that its matches should be moved from India to Sri Lanka.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had also supported Bangladesh’s stance in the ICC Executive Board meeting.
Bangladesh had been given a deadline that it should confirm its participation in the global event but its government’s stance was firm saying that it cannot send its team to India due to security issues.
The ICC then brought in Scotland in its place.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi had also criticized the ICC for double standards following its one-sided decision against Bangladesh who Naqvi said that they were also a member like Pakistan and there should be equal treatment.
After Pakistan’s decision on last Sunday that Pakistan will play in the ICC T20 World Cup but it will not play its game against India on February 15 ICC issued a statement immediately after that showing concerns over Pakistan’s stance.
“ICC events are designed around equal participation by all qualified teams under a common schedule,” the ICC stamen said, adding that any deviation from this framework threatens the credibility of the tournament as a whole.
While recognising that governments play a legitimate role in matters of national policy, the ICC emphasised that the reported decision is not in the best interests of the global game nor of cricket supporters worldwide. The governing body specifically highlighted the potential disappointment for millions of fans in Pakistan, for whom World Cup participation remains a major source of national pride and engagement.
The ICC also cautioned that the implications of such a move could extend well beyond a single tournament. It urged the PCB to carefully consider the long-term consequences for cricket in Pakistan, pointing out that the country is an integral member of the global cricket ecosystem and has benefited significantly from ICC events and structures.
“The impact of selective participation is likely to affect not just one board or one team, but the wider international cricket framework,” the ICC said, signalling concerns over precedent and governance.
Reaffirming its commitment to the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the ICC stressed that ensuring the tournament’s integrity is a shared responsibility of all member boards, including the PCB. It called on the Pakistan Cricket Board to engage constructively with stakeholders and explore a mutually acceptable resolution that safeguards the interests of players, fans, commercial partners and the sport as a whole.
Pakistan are already in Sri Lanka and will play in the World Cup.