Former captain Rashid Latif on Pakistan boycotting India T20 World Cup match
Shukla’s remarks came a day after the Pakistan government announced that while it has cleared the national team for the 2026 ICC Men’s Under-20 World Cup, it will not allow the side to take the field against India. In a post on X, the Pakistan government said the team “will not take the field” for the February 15 match, without giving any specific reason for the decision. However, Pakistan will play the rest of the tournament starting on February 7.The ICC reacted forcefully to the development by stating that “selective participation” contradicts the basic premise of a global sporting event. In a statement, the ICC said it had taken note of the Pakistan government’s statement and was awaiting an official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), but stressed that all qualified teams were expected to compete on equal terms as per the published schedule.The global body added that ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness and warned that selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of such competitions. The ICC respects the role of governments in national politics, but said the decision was not in the interest of the global game or fans around the world, including millions in Pakistan, and urged the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable solution that would protect all parties involved.Meanwhile, India head into the tournament in strong form after winning the five-match T20I series against New Zealand 4-1. The defending champions are in Group A alongside Pakistan, Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA and will begin their campaign on February 7.