Sunil Gavaskar has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take serious measures against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their decision not to play India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Although the Pakistani government has given the green light for the team to participate, they will not compete in the scheduled match against India on February 15.
This match is highly anticipated in the history of ICC tournaments, but its status is now uncertain due to the recent announcement from the Pakistani government.
Gavaskar insists that the ICC should enforce penalties on Pakistan to discourage similar actions by other teams in the future.
“Withdrawing at the last moment is a problem. The ICC should take some action. There are other boards involved as well, so it’s unclear what steps they will take following this announcement. However, the penalties should be significant enough that no other teams consider doing this again,” Gavaskar stated.
If Pakistan does not show up for the match on February 15, India will automatically receive two points. The ICC may look into sanctions once they get formal notification from the PCB. Possible penalties could include blocking no-objection certificates for overseas players in the Pakistan Super League, leading to financial setbacks. If the issue remains unresolved, Pakistan could also lose the right to host future ICC events.
