Pakistan calls for new global cricket body, accuses ICC of serving Indian political interests

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday, February 3, called for the formation of a new global cricket governing body, stating that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has become hostage to Indian political interests. His remarks come amid a fresh row between the two neighbours ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

Earlier this week, the Pakistan government announced that it had cleared its national men’s team to participate in the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7. However, it also stated that the national team would boycott its fixture against India on February 15, without specifying the reason behind the decision.

In response, the ICC said that Pakistan’s move was not in the best interests of the global game or the welfare of cricket fans worldwide, including the millions of supporters in Pakistan.

“A new international organization of cricket is needed to keep the spirit of the gentleman’s game alive. ICC has become hostage to Indian political interests in South Asia,” Asif wrote on X.

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Pakistan’s dispute with the ICC stems from its recent displeasure over the cricket body’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh had requested that the global governing body shift its matches to a venue outside India due to security concerns amid rising political tensions between Delhi and Dhaka.

India generates the largest share of cricket’s commercial revenue, giving it significant influence over the sport. Critics argue that this financial dominance translates into considerable leverage within the ICC. A substantial portion of that revenue comes from the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s most lucrative T20 cricket competition, run by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to Daily Mirror Online, the IPL is projected to earn $1.15 billion between 2024 and 2027, nearly 39 percent of the ICC’s total annual revenue.

The ICC is currently headed by Jay Shah, son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah. The ICC chair is expected to operate independently of any national cricket board and make impartial decisions. However, political and bilateral tensions between India and Pakistan have spilled over into cricket. In May last year, the two countries were involved in a four-day military confrontation.

These tensions were evident during the September 2025 Asia Cup, where India refused to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers. The teams met for three matches, all won by India, and avoided handshakes before or after the games. India and Pakistan have not played a full bilateral series since 2012-13 due to political conflicts, facing each other mainly at neutral venues.