Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani has called on current ICC chairman Jay Shah to take an active role in reducing tensions between Pakistan and India. Speaking to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper from London, Mani said Shah should personally visit Pakistan to persuade its government to withdraw its boycott and to listen carefully to its concerns. He warned that the ICC must also protect global cricket from potential financial losses if the standoff continues.

Mani criticized the ICC’s reported decision to assign deputy chairman Imran Khwaja to handle talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), arguing that as a representative of associate member Singapore, Khwaja was not the right person for the task. He said the ICC chairman himself should engage directly with the Pakistani government. Mani added that Pakistan’s decision likely rests on a strong foundation, especially if the matter reaches the ICC arbitration committee.

He expressed concern that India’s influence within the ICC could affect any arbitration outcome, as seen in 2018, and suggested Pakistan could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland if justice is denied.

The United States has reaffirmed its support for Pakistan following coordinated attacks in the southwestern province of Balochistan that left more than 50 people dead. The US State Department issued a statement on Friday, condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with Pakistan. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks, which targeted multiple districts last Saturday. The US has previously designated the BLA as a terrorist organization.

According to reports, Balochistan, rich in mineral resources and bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has long been the site of an armed separatist insurgency. Baloch militant groups frequently target security forces, foreign nationals, and non-local Pakistanis. Pakistan’s military said intelligence-based operations killed 216 militants, while 36 civilians, including women and children, and 22 security personnel were also killed in the violence. Islamabad blamed India for the attacks, but New Delhi denied the accusation.

Security analysts warned that the insurgency remains in a stalemate and could intensify without political solutions. Former military officials noted that weapons left after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan have strengthened militant groups like the BLA.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has confirmed that Pakistan will boycott its ICC Men’s Twenty20 World Cup match against India, describing the move as an act of solidarity with Bangladesh. Sharif told his cabinet that the decision followed careful deliberation and reflected Pakistan’s stance that politics should not interfere with sports. The match, scheduled for February 15, will not be played by Pakistan, effectively confirming earlier speculation about the government’s position.

The decision comes after Bangladesh was ousted from the tournament for refusing to travel to India for its fixtures, a situation that followed the expulsion of Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League on the directives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha said the team would seek government advice if it faces India in later knockout stages. The International Cricket Council (ICC) criticized the boycott, saying selective participation undermines the spirit of global competitions and could have long-term consequences for Pakistan’s cricket.

It remains unclear whether the Pakistan Cricket Board will face additional sanctions or bans beyond forfeiting two points. The T20 World Cup begins on Saturday.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned that his country will deliver a firm and equal response to any provocation from India. He issued the warning on Thursday during a special address in Azad Kashmir marking Kashmir Solidarity Day, according to The News. Sharif stated that Pakistan would respond directly from the front where any provocation originates.

In his speech, Sharif accused India of conducting terrorism in Pakistan through proxies following its defeat in the war last May. He said regional peace would remain impossible until India abandons what he described as its aggressive, expansionist, and hegemonic ambitions. The prime minister emphasized that Pakistan’s armed forces and security agencies would counter any India-backed terrorist activity with the same determination and skill shown in confronting enemy warplanes.

Sharif reiterated that Pakistan seeks peace based on equality and justice, describing the recent military success as both a demonstration of professional strength and a tribute to the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people.

Pakistan has announced that it will consult its government before deciding whether to play India if the two teams meet in the knockout stage of the upcoming T20 World Cup. The statement came from Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, who told reporters in Colombo that the decision to boycott the group-stage match against India was made by the government, not the players. He added that any future decision regarding a semifinal or final against India would also depend on government advice.

The controversy follows the International Cricket Council’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament lineup, a move Pakistan has publicly protested as unfair. Pakistan’s government responded by boycotting the group-stage match against India. The Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier supported Bangladesh’s stance of not traveling to India and suggested hosting Bangladesh’s matches in Sri Lanka.

By forfeiting the group-stage match, Pakistan will lose two points, which could negatively affect its net run rate. Captain Salman acknowledged the challenge, saying the team aims to focus on playing good cricket despite limited room for error and unpredictable weather conditions.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has accused India of conducting proxy terrorism in Pakistan following its defeat in the war of May last year. He made the allegation in response to recent deadly attacks in Balochistan, speaking during a special session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad on Kashmir Solidarity Day. Sharif said sustainable peace in South Asia is impossible unless India abandons its aggressive and expansionist policies.

During his address, Sharif expressed solidarity with the people of Kashmir, saying their sacrifices would not be in vain. He recalled Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s description of Kashmir as the “jugular vein” of Pakistan and reaffirmed his country’s commitment to peace based on equality and justice. He also reiterated Pakistan’s principled stance on Palestine and Kashmir.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces recently completed “Operation Raddul Fitna-1,” killing at least 216 militants. The coordinated operation also left 36 civilians, including women and children, and 22 security personnel dead.

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has signed a direct contract with Lahore Qalandars, the reigning champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), for 64.4 million Pakistani rupees. The franchise announced the deal on Thursday afternoon through social media, confirming that Mustafizur will be a key part of their foreign pace attack. The Qalandars described him as a returning member of their family, recalling his previous stints with the team in 2016 and 2018.

The move comes shortly after Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur following political and religious pressure in India. His participation in the PSL was confirmed on January 6, though the team was not disclosed at that time. Mustafizur previously played five matches for Lahore Qalandars in the 2018 season, taking four wickets with an economy rate of 6.43.

Lahore Qalandars, one of the most successful PSL teams with three titles, currently hold the championship. Last season, Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain took 13 wickets in seven matches for the same team.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the decision not to play against India in the 2026 T20 World Cup was taken after careful consideration. Speaking at a cabinet meeting, he stated that politics has no place in sports and that the move expresses Pakistan’s full solidarity with Bangladesh. The match, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, will not be played, though Pakistan will participate in the rest of the tournament.

The decision followed discussions between Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. It came after the International Cricket Council (ICC) replaced Bangladesh with Scotland due to Bangladesh’s security concerns about playing in India. Pakistan had initially considered withdrawing from the tournament entirely but later opted to continue while boycotting the India match. The ICC has urged the PCB to seek a mutual resolution.

The boycott leaves Pakistan facing a tougher path in the group stage, where they must win their remaining three matches to stay in contention for the top two positions. The World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, runs from February 7 to March 8.

Pakistan has announced it will boycott its match against India in the 2026 T20 World Cup, despite participating in the tournament. The decision, taken to support Bangladesh’s withdrawal over security concerns, has triggered widespread debate. The ICC warned that such a unilateral move could have severe legal and contractual consequences, as the India-Pakistan fixture generates major revenue for the organization.

Legal experts cited the Members Participation Agreement (MPA), which obliges qualified teams to play all scheduled matches. By refusing to play, Pakistan could be accused of breaching the contract, exposing itself to financial penalties or harsher sanctions. Pakistan may invoke the ‘force majeure’ clause, arguing that a government directive prevents participation, but it remains unclear whether the PCB has followed the required formal process.

The controversy deepened due to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s dual role as both a government minister and board head, potentially weakening Pakistan’s legal defense. The ICC retains the power to suspend or revoke membership for serious violations, making this dispute a potential turning point for global cricket governance.

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.

A large-scale anti-terror operation in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has left 255 people dead over three days, according to the country’s security forces. Officials claimed that 197 members of an ‘India-backed’ separatist group were killed during the operation, along with 22 Pakistani soldiers who died in the line of duty. The violence began on January 31 when the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched coordinated attacks across 12 towns, killing 17 security personnel and 31 civilians.

Following the attacks, Pakistani forces and law enforcement agencies initiated a clearance operation across the province. Security sources reported that 36 civilians, including women and children, were killed in subsequent assaults over the weekend. The military’s media wing, ISPR, stated that the militants targeted ordinary citizens to disrupt normal life and development in Balochistan.

ISPR added that security forces responded with determination and professionalism, though intense fighting led to further casualties among troops. The situation remains tense as operations continue in multiple districts.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister and imprisoned PTI leader Imran Khan has undergone eye surgery and is gradually recovering, according to party chairman Barrister Gohar Khan. The update, shared on Tuesday, was based on information from Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi. The operation took place last week at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences after Khan experienced severe eye pain. Doctors had warned that without treatment, there was a risk of losing his eyesight.

Gohar Khan disclosed the details after family members were allowed to meet Imran Khan in prison, where only Bushra Bibi was present during the visit. He stated that no political discussions took place at that time. Gohar also alleged irregularities in the prison’s meeting policies, arguing that there is no written restriction on political discussions and that all parties should be treated equally under the law.

He described the authorities’ refusal to allow him to meet the PTI founder as regrettable and urged that prison visits should not be politicized. Imran Khan has also sent a message for his party and legal team, which Gohar Khan will deliver.

Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal has sharply criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to boycott its T20 World Cup match against India in support of Bangladesh. Speaking on the YouTube channel ‘Game Plan,’ Akmal said the PCB should not back down from its stance, accusing the ICC of double standards for urging Pakistan to reconsider the boycott.

Akmal questioned why the ICC had remained silent when the Asia Cup was held under a hybrid model and when India refused to play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. He argued that Pakistan’s decision deserved respect, just as Pakistan had respected India’s earlier choices. Akmal also recalled incidents during the Asia Cup when Indian players allegedly refused to shake hands or accept the trophy, calling it disrespectful.

Following Pakistan’s government announcement on social media, the ICC issued a statement saying it had not yet received official communication from the PCB. The ICC urged the board to consider the long-term impact of its decision on national and global cricket and to seek a solution that protects all stakeholders’ interests.

Pakistan has decided to boycott its scheduled World Cup group-stage match against India on February 15, in protest against the ICC’s role in Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament. The decision, announced after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi, has sparked widespread debate about potential financial losses and sanctions.

Analysts have suggested that the cancellation of the India–Pakistan match could cost the ICC billions in revenue, and that Pakistan might face fines or bans from future ICC or Asia Cup events. However, the report indicates that such penalties are unlikely because the boycott was ordered by Pakistan’s government, not its cricket board.

Historical precedents show that when governments directed teams to boycott matches, such as Australia and West Indies in 1996 or New Zealand and England in 2003, the ICC did not impose financial sanctions. Based on these examples, Pakistan is expected to avoid major financial repercussions from its government-led decision.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) faces renewed pressure ahead of the T20 World Cup as political tensions between Pakistan and India intensify. Pakistan’s government has decided that its team will not play against India, and according to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and former ICC chairman Ehsan Mani, the ICC cannot punish Pakistan for following a government directive. They argue that compliance with state orders cannot be treated as a punishable offense.

Mani recalled that a similar situation occurred when India refused to play in Pakistan during the 2025 Champions Trophy due to its government’s restrictions, and the ICC took no action then. He emphasized that when a cricket board acts under state instruction, applying double standards is unjustified. Mani also criticized the ICC for merely observing such crises instead of finding effective solutions, noting that the PCB’s chairman is also a government minister.

Financially, the India-Pakistan match is the most lucrative fixture of the World Cup, valued at about 615 billion rupees. Sources suggest the ICC may explore alternatives such as adjusting revenue distribution instead of imposing direct sanctions.