Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has thrown his support behind the government’s decision not to play against India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, calling the move appropriate under the current circumstances.
In a post on social media platform X, Afridi said he has always believed that cricket can sometimes help ease political tensions, but added that Pakistan’s stance at this stage is understandable.
He described the decision to skip the India match as unfortunate, but said he stood firmly with the government’s position on the issue.
Afridi also said the situation presents a serious test for the International Cricket Council, stressing that the global body must go beyond statements and demonstrate through its actions that it is neutral, independent and treats all member nations equally.
Referring to Bangladesh, Afridi noted that Dhaka had earlier requested the ICC to shift its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns.
However, instead of addressing those concerns, the ICC opted to include Scotland in the tournament, he said.
Following these developments, the Pakistan government announced it would participate in the T20 World Cup but would not play the high-profile match against India scheduled for 15 February, a decision Afridi has publicly endorsed.
