Pakistan has announced a boycott of its upcoming T20 World Cup match against India, sparking widespread debate over the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) neutrality. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused the ICC of double standards and called for the creation of a new international cricket body. His remarks, shared on social media, were echoed by sports analyst and journalist Omar Quraishi, who questioned the ICC’s impartiality and policy consistency.

Quraishi argued that Pakistan’s decision reflects long-standing political realities in international cricket, which he said the ICC itself has allowed to develop. He claimed that past favoritism toward the Indian government by the ICC has contributed to the current situation. According to Quraishi, Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup remains both pragmatic and principled, as it is a multilateral event rather than a bilateral series.

He added that Pakistan’s stance highlights the need for equal application of rules across all teams, asserting that until fairness is ensured, the country’s position remains justified and defensible.