• Source:JND
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IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026: Ex-Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal has criticised the ICC for its stance of requesting the PCB to reconsider their decision of boycotting their match against India at the mega event, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka. Post Bangladesh getting eliminated owing to security reasons, the Pakistan government also doesn't want its team to face India. And that's why ICC urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to change its decision.

The PCB still hasn't informed the ICC about their decision not to play against India, as ex-cricketer Kamran Akmal backed the PCB to not change their decision.

PCB should not back down! The ICC has told the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider its stance of boycotting the India game. Was ICC sleeping when the Asia Cup happened in the hybrid model? Was ICC sleeping when India said it would not play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and only play on a neutral venue? How many times has Pakistan played in India, despite the heightened tensions between the two countries? I have gone myself. The ICC should have thought of these things three years back!” Akmal was quoted as saying on the Game Plan YouTube channel.

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“The two countries have not played a bilateral series for years now. Wasn’t that also politics? Shouldn’t the ICC have thought of ending the politics then? The PCB’s decision should be respected just as we respected India’s decision to play in a hybrid model. Things had gotten to such extreme levels. At the Asia Cup, they refused to shake hands with our players, then refused to accept the trophy (from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi. They had disrespected us!” he added.

After the Pakistan government revealed that they will be boycotting the match against India in a tweet, the ICC then released a statement saying that they haven't received any formal request from the PCB.

“While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule,” the statement released by ICC said.

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“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 impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of… ICC expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders,” it concluded.


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