On February 3, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called for the establishment of a new global Cricket governing body, arguing that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is overly influenced by Indian political interests. His comments arise amidst ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
This week, the Pakistani government confirmed its national men’s team will take part in the World Cup, which will be shared between India and Sri Lanka starting February 7. However, the government also announced that the team would not play against India on February 15, without providing a reason for this decision.
In reaction, the ICC stated that Pakistan’s decision does not support the interests of the global cricket community or the millions of fans worldwide, including those in Pakistan.
“A new international cricket organization is necessary to preserve the integrity of the game. The ICC has become a pawn to Indian political interests in South Asia,” Asif posted on X.