Team Pakistan (Photo: Sameer Ali/Getty Images) Former PCB chairman Ehsan Mani believes that the ICC cannot punish Pakistan for boycotting India’s match in the T20 World Cup 2026. He says that the ICC has no legal right to sanction the Pakistan Cricket Board.The Pakistan government has allowed the team to play in the T20 World Cup. But he made it clear that Pakistan will not play India on February 15 in Colombo. No official reason was given for this decision.
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The ICC issued a statement following this development. It asked the PCB to find a “mutually acceptable solution”. It also warned Pakistan of long-term consequences. However, Mani disagrees with the ICC’s position.He says the PCB is merely following the government order. He pointed out that India had done the same earlier. BCCI did not send its team to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025. This decision came from Indian government. ICC did not punish India then.“There can be no sanctions against Pakistan if they follow government instructions. That was the basis on which India refused to play their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Pakistan. You can’t have double standards,” Mani told Sportstar.Mani also accused the ICC of mishandling the situation. He said the ICC ignored the warning signs.“So, unfortunately, I’m back to the fact that instead of the ICC looking at the issue, it just stood there as a bystander. You’ve left the door open for any country to get their government involved. And especially knowing that the PCB chairman is a serving government minister,” he added.
