''Cricket can open doors' - Shahid Afridi reacts to Pakistan’s decision to boycott India clash at T20 World Cup 2026

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has delivered a nuanced response after the Pakistan government confirmed that the national team will not play against India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The

highly-anticipated clash between the arch-rivals was scheduled to take place in Colombo on February 15, but Pakistan’s players have reportedly been instructed not to take the field.

Pakistan and India’s latest standoff follows the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament, a move that has drawn criticism from several quarters. Since then, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had been weighing the possibility of skipping the India fixture, before the government formally stepped in and directed the team accordingly.

Afridi, who has consistently argued that sports and politics should remain separate, expressed disappointment over the development. However, while voicing his regret, the former all-rounder also said he respects the government’s stance and urged the ICC to address the issue through decisive and neutral action.

"I've always believed cricket can open doors when politics closes them. Regrettably, Pakistan won't play India at the #T20WorldCup, but I stand behind my government's decision. This is the moment for @ICC to lead and prove through decisions, not statements, that it is impartial, independent, and fair to every member," Afridi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The statement has sparked debate, particularly given Afridi’s past remarks advocating dialogue and sporting engagement between nations. His comments have also drawn attention due to a recent incident involving India Legends and Pakistan Legends in the World Championship of Legends tournament at Edgbaston, where Afridi found himself at the centre of another controversy.

During that event, India Legends withdrew from their match against Pakistan Legends after former India opener Shikhar Dhawan declined to take part. Afridi, at the time, criticised the mixing of politics with sport and suggested that such decisions hinder progress.

"Sports bring people closer, but if politics gets involved in everything, how will we move forward? ... Sometimes, there's one bad egg (or rotten egg) that spoils everything for everyone else," Afridi had said, taking a swipe at Dhawan’s stance.

The contrast between Pakistani veteran earlier criticism of political interference and his current support for his government’s decision has not gone unnoticed. Many observers have pointed out the apparent contradiction, especially given the global significance of the T20 World Cup and the central role India–Pakistan matches play in the tournament’s appeal.