Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president and ex-chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ehsan Mani has said that Pakistan cannot face any sanctions for boycotting its scheduled match against India in the T20 World Cup.
Speaking to Indian media, Mani said that if the Pakistan cricket team follows government instructions and decides not to play against India, the ICC has no grounds to impose any penalty.
He pointed out that India had earlier refused to play its matches in Pakistan during the 2025 Champions Trophy on the instructions of its own government. “If India was not punished for following its government’s policy, then imposing sanctions on Pakistan would clearly be a double standard,” he said.
Mani criticised the ICC for failing to address the growing political interference in cricket. He said the world body remained a “silent spectator” instead of taking a firm stand, effectively allowing politics to enter the sport.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has allowed its national team to participate in the T20 World Cup. However, as a gesture of solidarity with Bangladesh, the team will not take the field against India in the match scheduled for February 15. The Pakistan team will formally boycott the fixture, a decision that has already sparked debate across the cricketing world.