Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has offered a nuanced reaction after the Pakistan government confirmed that the national team will boycott its T20 World Cup 2026 clash against India. The much-anticipated India–Pakistan fixture, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, has been officially ruled out after the government instructed Salman Ali Agha’s side not to take the field, protesting against the International Cricket Council’s handling of Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board had been hinting at skipping the India game ever since the ICC excluded Bangladesh, and the decision has now been formalised. Afridi, long known for advocating the separation of sports and politics, expressed regret over Pakistan’s absence from the marquee clash. At the same time, he stopped short of opposing the move, instead backing his government’s stance while urging the ICC to act decisively and fairly.
Afridi’s position has raised eyebrows, especially given his past comments on keeping politics out of sport. The former all-rounder was recently involved in controversy during the World Championship of Legends at Edgbaston, where India Legends pulled out of a match against Pakistan Legends. At the time, Afridi had criticised political interference, taking a swipe at former India opener Shikhar Dhawan for refusing to play.
“Sports bring people closer, but if politics gets involved in everything, how will we move forward? Sometimes, there’s one bad egg that spoils everything for everyone else,” Afridi had said then.
That makes his latest stance appear contradictory to many, as he now publicly supports political intervention in a tournament of the T20 World Cup’s stature.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Afridi wrote: “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.”
