NEW DELHI: Ever since Pakistan announced its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India, the question that has lingered on everyone's mind is: will the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) bear the brunt of International Cricket Council (ICC) sanctions?
The ICC also questioned the Pakistan government's decision and issued a warning that this boycott could lead to punitive sanctions.
"The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of," the global body said in a statement.
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"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," it further stated.
However, former ICC and PCB chairman Ehsan Mani does not believe the ICC has the authority to take any action against the PCB. He drew bizarre parallels between Pakistan's current stance and India's refusal to play its 2025 Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan. To clarify, India's refusal was to play its matches in Pakistan, not to play against Pakistan.
However, it has long been mutually agreed, with ICC intervention, that whenever an ICC or ACC tournament is held in India or Pakistan, matches between the two nations will be played at a neutral venue.
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"There can't be any sanctions against Pakistan if it follows the government instructions. That was the basis on which India refused to play its 2025 Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan. You can't have double standards," Mani told Sportstar.
"So, unfortunately, again I come back to the fact that instead of dealing with the problem, the ICC just stood there as a bystander. You left the door open for any country to get its government involved. And especially knowing that the chairman of the PCB is a serving minister of the government," he added.
