Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called for a new international cricket organisation.

 

Taking to X, he wrote "A new international organisation of cricket is needed to keep the spirit of the gentleman's game alive, ICC has become hostage to Indian political interests in South Asia."

 

The controversy comes after the Government of Pakistan allowed the national team to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup but decided not to play the scheduled February 15 match against India. Pakistan reportedly made the decision in solidarity with Bangladesh.

 

The move follows Bangladesh’s request to shift all its matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. The request came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BBCI) removed Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) amid reported threats from Hindu extremist groups. 

 

Bangladesh argued that if India could not guarantee the safety of a single player, it could not ensure the security of an entire team during a global tournament.

 

Instead of addressing the concerns, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland. Pakistan described the decision as unfair and noted that the ICC had previously allowed India to play at a neutral venue after it refused to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan said it stood firmly with Bangladesh and called the denial of similar consideration an injustice.

 

Earlier, Pakistan had linked its participation in the tournament to government approval. After PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week, the government announced on Sunday that Pakistan would skip the high-profile match against India. 

 

Despite the boycott, Pakistan remains well placed to qualify for the next round based on its remaining group matches.

 

The decision has raised major financial concerns for Indian broadcasters. The Pakistan-India clash ranks as the most valuable fixture in world cricket. Reports estimate that Indian broadcasters could lose nearly $250 million, around 70 billion Pakistani rupees, if the match is not played. The ICC could also lose millions in gate revenue.

 

Reports suggest that almost half of the total revenue from the T20 World Cup depends on the Pakistan-India fixture. The boycott is expected to affect broadcasters, advertisers, and other stakeholders. 

 

Pakistan receives around $35 million annually as its ICC revenue share. Following broadcaster losses, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could face legal action over commercial commitments.