New Delhi, Feb 2 (.) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla said BCCI agrees with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) position on sportsmanship following Pakistan’s decision to boycott its group-stage match against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said the Indian board would refrain from making any further comment until it holds discussions with the ICC.
“ICC has issued a big statement. They have spoken about sportsmanship, and we completely agree with the ICC. BCCI won’t make any comments on it until we speak with the ICC,” Shukla said.
His remarks came hours after the Government of Pakistan announced that its national team would not take the field for the February 15 group-stage match against India. In a post on social media platform X, the Pakistani government said it had approved the team’s participation in the tournament but excluded the fixture against India.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India,” the statement read.
Reacting to the development, the ICC issued a statement expressing concern over what it termed “selective participation”, stating that such a stance was inconsistent with the principles of a global sporting event.
“While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule,” the ICC said.
The ICC added that its tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and that selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of international competitions.
“While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan,” the statement said, urging the PCB to consider the long-term implications for cricket in the country.
The World Body said it expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution that protects the interests of all stakeholders.
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