New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the politicisation of cricket, calling Pakistan’s boycott of the T20 World Cup 2026 match in opposition to India “disgraceful,” and urged all events involved to “contact each other on an emergency basis” relating to the imbroglio.
Shashi Tharoor mentioned cricket is being politicised and known as it disgraceful after Pakistan’s determination to boycott the T20 WC match in opposition to India, whereas additionally noting that Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman mustn’t have been denied his contract with Kolkata Knight Riders for the Indian Premier League (IPL) within the first place. He known as Bangladesh’s response to the Mustafizur state of affairs an overreaction and famous that the entire T20 WC row is spiralling uncontrolled.
“It is pretty disgraceful that sport has been politicised in this way on both sides, frankly. I don’t think that Mustafizur (Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman) should have been denied his contract to play in Kolkata. It was most unfortunate. Intrusion of politics, I think the Bangladeshi reaction was an overreaction but it is also a reflection of the same and Pakistan is trying to show its solidarity with Bangladesh. This whole thing is spiralling out of control,” Tharoor instructed reporters.
“I think we need to really need to come to an understanding that sports, especially a sport like Cricket which means so much to all the people, should be a means of bringing us together at least on the playing field, rather than allowing this to go on like this. I honestly think this is now a wake up call for all concerned to contact each other on an emergency basis, the ICC could be the platform for it – just say, let’s call off this nonsense…You can’t go on like this forever,” Tharoor added.
SP MP Rajeev Rai, however, mentioned that India ought to have taken a agency determination relating to enjoying in opposition to Pakistan after Operation Sindoor.”It was our mistake that we gave an opportunity to Pakistan, wherein it could turn us down. I believe that after a firm decision should have been taken after Operation Sindoor. ‘One step forward, two steps back’ is the foreign policy of this Govt,” Rajeev Rai mentioned.
Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh mentioned India ought to have refused to play in opposition to Pakistan follwoing the Pahalgam Terrorist assault in 2025. Ujjwal Raman, stating, “From the beginning, I was of the firm belief that ever since the Pahalgam attack occurred, India should have refused to play against them. We should have raised this issue on a global scale that we will not play any match. But India played against them after Operation Sindoor. Even the ICC is so helpless that it is not being stern with Pakistan. ICC should ban Pakistan if it does something like this…This will not be tolerated; the Govt of India and ICC should take cognisance of this. India should present its side strongly that this will not be tolerated…”
Shashi Tharoor, Rajeev Rai and Ujjwal Raman’s feedback come after Pakistan determined to boycott its group-stage match in opposition to India within the ICC World T20 World Cup, scheduled for February 15. The Pakistan authorities mentioned in a put up on X that the Pakistan crew “shall not take the field” within the match in opposition to India.
In an X put up on Sunday, the Government of Pakistan said, “The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.”
The Pakistan authorities didn’t give any motive for its determination to not play in opposition to India.The Indian crew is in terrific type forward of the World Cup and gained the five-match T20I collection in opposition to New Zealand 4-1.Hours after Pakistan determined to boycott its T20 World Cup group stage conflict in opposition to India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) mentioned that “selective participation” shouldn’t be truthful with the “fundamental premise of a global sporting event” and that it expects the PCB to discover a mutually acceptable decision, which protects the pursuits of all stakeholders.
ICC mentioned in a launch that it has famous the assertion that the Government of Pakistan has made relating to the choice to instruct its nationwide crew to selectively take part within the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
“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 discharge mentioned.It mentioned that ICC tournaments are constructed on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and equity, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions.
“While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan. 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,” the discharge mentioned.
“It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders,” the discharge mentioned additional.
Pakistan have a horrible document in opposition to India within the ICC T20 World Cups. The two groups have performed eight occasions, with the document standing at 7-1 in India’s favour. The ICC T20 World Cup will start on February 7.
The PCB chairman and the nation’s inside minister, Mohsin Naqv, met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif final month to transient him on the International Cricket Council’s determination after Bangladesh refused to ship their crew to India over purported “security concerns”.
The ICC had final month introduced that Scotland will exchange Bangladesh within the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to take part within the event per the revealed match schedule.
Bangladesh’s refusal to journey to India for the T20 World Cup got here after Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman was expelled from the IPL 2026 squad of Kolkata Knight Riders following BCCI’s directive amidst violence in opposition to minorities in Bangladesh.
The announcement got here after the ICC, within the absence of any credible or verifiable safety menace to the Bangladesh nationwide crew in India, rejected the BCB’s demand to maneuver its matches from India to Sri Lanka, within the 20-team event to be performed from February 7 to March 8.
The determination adopted an intensive course of undertaken by the ICC to deal with considerations raised by the BCB about internet hosting its scheduled matches in India. Over greater than three weeks, the ICC engaged with the BCB by means of a number of rounds of dialogue carried out transparently and constructively, together with conferences held each by way of video convention and in particular person.
As a part of this course of, the ICC reviewed the considerations cited by the BCB, commissioned and thought of unbiased safety assessments from inside and exterior specialists, and shared detailed safety and operational plans overlaying federal and state preparations, in addition to enhanced and escalating safety protocols for the occasion.
These assurances had been reiterated at a number of levels, together with throughout discussions involving the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) Board.The ICC’s assessments concluded that there was no credible or verifiable safety menace to the Bangladesh nationwide crew, officers or supporters in India.
In mild of those findings, and after cautious consideration of the broader implications, the ICC decided that it was not applicable to amend the revealed occasion schedule. The ICC additionally famous the significance of preserving the integrity and sanctity of the event schedule, safeguarding the pursuits of all taking part groups and followers, and avoiding the institution of precedents that might undermine the neutrality and equity of ICC occasions.
Following its assembly, the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) Board requested the BCB to substantiate, inside a 24-hour timeframe, whether or not Bangladesh would take part within the event as scheduled. As no affirmation was obtained inside the stipulated deadline, the ICC proceeded in keeping with its established governance and qualification processes to establish a substitute crew.
Scotland are the highest-ranked T20I aspect to not initially qualify for the event. They are at the moment ranked 14th, forward of seven groups already within the event, Namibia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nepal, the United States of America (USA), Canada, Oman and Italy.
The defending champions, Team India, are slotted in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, the USA, and arch-rivals Pakistan. The Men in Blue will play their opening fixture in opposition to the USA on February 7, adopted by their match in opposition to on February 12.
