Former International Cricket Council chairman Ehsan Mani said the ICC could not punish Pakistan for boycotting its ICC T20 World Cup group stage match against India, saying the decision was taken on the basis of government guidelines and therefore did not fall under the governing body’s disciplinary purview.
Pakistan announced that they would not take the field for the high-profile match on February 15 against India in Colombo, although the government has allowed the national team to participate in the rest of the tournament from February 7. In a statement posted on social media, Pakistan’s government said it had granted approval for the team to participate in the event, but clarified that the side “will not take the field” for the match in India.
“There can be no sanctions against Pakistan if they follow government guidelines. That was the basis on which India refused to play their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Pakistan. You can’t have double standards,” Mani was quoted as saying by Sportstar. “Instead of dealing with this issue, the ICC has just stood there as a bystander.”
Mani, who also served as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said the situation effectively opened the door for governments to influence cricket decisions, especially since the PCB chairman is a sitting minister in the Pakistan government.
However, the ICC questioned the Pakistan government’s decision and issued a warning that selective participation could lead to punitive consequences. The governing body said it has not yet received any official communication from the PCB but termed the move as incompatible with the principles of the global sporting event.
“The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to affect the global cricket ecosystem of which it is itself a member and beneficiary,” the ICC said in a statement. The ICC acknowledged the role of governments in matters of national politics, but added that the decision was not in the interest of the global game or fans around the world, including those in Pakistan.
The ICC said it expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable solution, with the governing body’s priority remaining the smooth running of the tournament.
The PCB said it would reconsider its participation after the government’s decision and said the boycott reflected solidarity with Bangladesh. Pakistan are scheduled to open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18, with all matches to be played at the SSC ground in Colombo.
The India-Pakistan match is traditionally the most anticipated match at any ICC event, attracting peak global viewership, sponsor interest and broadcast revenue. The switch would give India full points but could also lead to significant commercial losses, with estimates suggesting the host broadcaster could lose Rs 200-250 crore in advertising revenue.
In ICC game conditionsthe opposing team must be present on the court for the throw to be awarded a transition. Hence, India are expected to travel to Colombo for the match and captain Suryakumar Yadav is set to go for the toss. If Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha does not turn up, the umpires will give the match a break and two points to India.
While Mani believes formal punishment is unlikely, the ICC retains the power to consider financial action even as it considers its options amid growing uncertainty over the tournament’s most watched tournament.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 2, 2026
