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ICC key meeting postponed amid Middle East tensions

DOHA: The key meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) scheduled for March 25-27 has been postponed due to rising tensions in the Middle East.

The decision was shared with member nations on Saturday, ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final, in a press release.

“The ICC’s support of and collaboration with the Qatar Cricket Association and Olympic Committee, Cricket in Qatar has fuelled remarkable progress for the sport in recent years,” the ICC had said.

The Doha meetings were aimed to bring together the ICC Board Directors, Chief Executives, Committee Members, and senior leadership as part of the organisation’s regular governance calendar.

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The meeting was considered vital to discuss the important matters regarding the present and future of the global game.

Although the meetings are likely to be rescheduled for a date in April, an exact date has not been announced yet.

Meanwhile, there is no immediate information confirming Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam’s attendance at the meeting, as he is believed to be in Melbourne.

Additionally, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Moshsin Naqvi, will not be present.

Meanwhile, a host of ICC officials also attended the final in Ahmedabad, the home city of Jay Shah, the chair of the ICC.

India lifted the T20 World Cup for a record third time after defeating New Zealand by 95 runs.

Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah starred for the Men in Blue in the final.

READ: Kohli reacts after India lift T20 World Cup 2026 trophy

Pakistan-India T20 World Cup match saves ICC from heavy losses

COLOMBO: The confirmation of the blockbuster Pakistan–India encounter in the T20 World Cup 2026 has reportedly spared the International Cricket Council (ICC) from massive financial losses, with Indian media estimating the figure at around USD 174 million.

According to reports, the projected losses were based on potential setbacks in broadcasting revenue, sponsorship commitments and gate receipts, all of which had been under threat during uncertainty surrounding the high-profile fixture.

The resumption of the match has also triggered a sharp spike in travel activity.

Media reports indicated that airfares between Mumbai and Colombo surged soon after the decision was confirmed, reflecting renewed fan interest in what is widely regarded as cricket’s most commercially valuable contest.

Colombo’s hospitality industry has also welcomed the development.

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Hotel operators revealed that several fans had earlier reached out to cancel bookings after suggesting they would boycott Pakistan’s matches, while others had been inquiring about refund policies for tickets to the Pakistan–India game.

It is worth noting that the Government of Pakistan late Monday night directed the national men’s team to participate in the T20 World Cup clash against India at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15.

In an official statement, the federal government said the decision followed careful evaluation of multiple factors, including the outcome of recent discussions involving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

The statement also referenced formal requests from various cricket boards and a telephonic conversation between Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which the Sri Lankan leader urged a peaceful resolution to ensure the marquee fixture proceeds as scheduled.

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ICC delegation to meet Mohsin Naqvi to break India-Pakistan deadlock: sources

LAHORE: A high-level International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation is set to meet the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, here today to resolve the ongoing deadlock over the India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, sources revealed.

The much-anticipated fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, widely regarded as one of cricket’s most commercially significant contests, remains uncertain after the Government of Pakistan directed its national team not to take the field against India in Colombo.

The match is scheduled for February 15 and carries massive implications both financially and competitively.

The 20-team tournament has already been clouded by political tensions following Bangladesh’s refusal to play matches in India due to security concerns, a decision that led to their replacement by Scotland.

In response, the Pakistan government barred the national side from participating in the high-profile Group A encounter against co-hosts India.

Pakistan, who opened their campaign with a victory over the Netherlands on February 7, stand to lose two vital points and suffer a significant blow to their net run rate if they forfeit the contest.

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According to sources, the ICC delegation, led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja, is expected to arrive in Lahore around 4pm.

The delegation will hold discussions with PCB leadership and senior officials to explore a possible way forward.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam is also likely to join the meeting, reflecting the broader regional dimensions of the issue.

Sources further indicated that the ICC has tasked Khwaja with convincing PCB leadership to reconsider Pakistan’s stance, with the governing body keen to find a compromise that ensures the blockbuster encounter proceeds as scheduled.

The outcome of the talks could prove pivotal for the tournament and the future handling of politically sensitive fixtures in international cricket.

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ICC moves to revive India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash

The International Cricket Council is in talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board to resolve the boycott of its T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, AFP learnt Saturday.

Any clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is one of the most lucrative in cricket, worth millions of dollars in broadcast, sponsor and advertising revenue.

But the fixture was thrown into doubt after Pakistan’s government ordered the team not to play the match in Colombo.

The Pakistan Cricket Board reached out to the ICC after a formal communication from the cricket’s world body, a source close to the developments told AFP.

The ICC was seeking a resolution through dialogue and not confrontation, the source added.

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The 20-team tournament has been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up after Bangladesh, who refused to play in India citing security concerns, were replaced by Scotland.

As a protest, Pakistan refused to face co-hosts India in their Group A fixture.

Pakistan, who edged out Netherlands in the tournament opener on Saturday, will lose two points if they forfeit the match and also suffer a significant blow to their net run rate.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav said this week that his team would travel to Colombo for the clash.

Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for more than a decade, and meet only in global or regional tournaments.

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ICC issues warning to Pakistan over boycotting India clash

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday addressed Pakistan’s decision to boycott their T20 World Cup 2026 clash against India, warning that “selective participation” could have serious implications for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Pakistan were originally scheduled to face arch-rivals India on February 15 in Colombo during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

However, the Government of Pakistan announced on Sunday that the national team will take part in the tournament but will not play India.

Within hours of the government’s announcement, the ICC released a strongly worded statement, clarifying that it has not yet received official communication from the PCB regarding the matter.

“The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” the ICC said in a statement.

“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 further stressed that its tournaments are built on sporting integrity and fairness, warning that refusing to play a particular opponent undermines the very foundation of international competition.

“ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions,” it added.

Although the ICC acknowledged the role governments play in national policy decisions, it maintained that the move is not in the sport’s best interests and could hurt cricket fans, including millions in Pakistan.

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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,” the statement continued.

In a clear warning aimed at the PCB, the ICC urged Pakistan’s cricket authorities to reflect on the long-term consequences of such a stance.

“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,” it said.

The governing body also called on the PCB to find a solution that safeguards the tournament and the interests of all stakeholders.

“The ICC’s priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which should also be the responsibility of all its members, including the PCB,” the ICC further stated.

“It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders.”

Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA, and are set to play all their matches in Sri Lanka under the tournament’s hosting model.

The Green Shirts will open their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7, followed by matches against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.

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Shahid Afridi slams ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh at T20 World Cup

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has strongly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for replacing Bangladesh with Scotland at the T20 World Cup 2026, calling the decision unfair and inconsistent.

The ICC on Saturday confirmed Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns.

Despite several rounds of discussions, the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift their matches to Sri Lanka, eventually opting to replace them with Scotland.

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Afridi voiced his disappointment through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, questioning the ICC’s approach and accusing the governing body of applying double standards.

“As a former international cricketer who has played in Bangladesh and in ICC events, I’m deeply disappointed by today’s ICC’s inconsistency,” Afridi wrote.

The former all-rounder drew a comparison with the ICC’s stance on India’s decision not to tour Pakistan in 2025, arguing that Bangladesh deserved similar consideration.

“It accepted India’s security concerns for not touring Pakistan in 2025, yet appears unwilling to apply the same understanding to Bangladesh,” Afridi added. “Consistency and fairness are the foundation of global cricket governance.”

Shahid Afridi further stressed that the decision goes beyond administrative matters and directly affects players and supporters.

“Bangladesh’s players and millions of its fans deserve respect – not mixed standards. The ICC should build bridges, not burn them,” he concluded.

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T20 World Cup schedule intact as ICC rejects Bangladesh plea

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday confirmed there would be no changes to the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule or groups despite Bangladesh’s request to relocate its matches to Sri Lanka amid security concerns.

The marquee event is set to commence on 7 February across Sri Lanka and India.

The decision came following an ICC Board meeting earlier in the day, held to discuss Bangladesh’s participation in the mega event.

According to the global cricket governing body, the decision was taken after security threats were cleared.

“Considering all security assessments conducted, including independent reviews, all of which indicated there was no threat to Bangladesh players, media persons, officials, and fans at any tournament venues in the country,” ICC said.

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“It was noted that it was not feasible to make changes so close to the tournament and that altering the schedule under the circumstances, in the absence of any credible security threat, could set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctity of future ICC events and undermine its neutrality as a global governing body,” the statement added.

Bangladesh are slotted in Group C alongside West Indies, Nepal, and England.

As per the original itinerary, the Tigers’ first three matches are scheduled at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with their last group stage fixture to be played in Mumbai.

For those unaware, the whole situation arose after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to send its team to India for the tournament, citing safety concerns for players and support staff, and had requested that the ICC shift the matches outside India.

The decision followed an IPL-related dispute involving pacer Mustafizur Rahman, which triggered strong reactions in Dhaka.

Despite multiple discussions, the ICC’s proposal to change venues within India was rejected by the BCB, which remains firm on playing its matches in Sri Lanka, prolonging the standoff.

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T20 World Cup 2026 additional tickets go on sale

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced the sale of additional tickets for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will commence on 7 February.

According to the global governing body for cricket’s press release, fans can grab additional tickets for the mega event at ‘affordable prices’.

“The tournament kickstarting from February 7 had generated a buzz since they first went live in December. This included more than two million tickets up for grabs from games across the eight venues in India and Sri Lanka,” the press release wrote.

“Prioritising fan access for fans around the world, the ICC have introduced record affordable ticket prices for the marquee tournament – starting at just INR 100 in India (approximately $1.11) and LKR 1000 in Sri Lanka (approximately $3.26),” it added.

For the unversed, the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on 7 February across India and Sri Lanka.

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The highly-anticipated tournament will run till March 8 with 20 teams fighting for the glory.

The tournament will be hosted across eight stadiums in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kandy, and Colombo — with the opening match scheduled for 8 February between Pakistan and the Netherlands in Sri Lanka.

The action will move to India later in the day, where two-time champions West Indies will play Bangladesh.

In the evening, the hosts and defending champions India will square off against the USA in Mumbai to conclude an eventful opening day.

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ICC says no specific security threat to Bangladesh team in India

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) said an internal security assessment found no specific threat to the Bangladesh cricket team in India for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Cricinfo reported on Monday.

According to the report, the cricket apex body shared a security assessment with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in which the team has been cleared to travel to India for the mega event.

The internal evaluation found no overall threat to the team, although it highlighted low to moderate risks in some venues and low to negligible risks in others, which fall within standard ICC security classifications and do not ordinarily constitute sufficient reason to relocate fixtures.

Earlier, the Bangladesh sports advisor claimed that the ICC’s assessment pointed out some difficulties for the Tigers during the World Cup matches.

“We have sent two letters (to the ICC), after which the ICC security team have sent a letter,” Nazrul said.

He claimed that ICC cited three potential security implications for Bangladesh’s travel to India, including Mustafizur Rahman’s presence in the side.

“So this statement of the ICC security team has proven beyond a doubt that there is no situation for the Bangladesh cricket team to play the T20 World Cup in India.

If the ICC expects us to make a cricket team without our best bowler, our supporters will not be able to wear the Bangladesh jersey, and we will postpone the Bangladesh elections to play cricket, then there can be no more bizarre, unrealistic, and unreasonable expectation than this,” he said.

However, as per the report, ICC considers that Nazrul’s claims are a misreading of routine contingency planning and hypothetical scenarios.

Later, BCB statements clarified that the ICC security assessment was not related to Bangladesh’s official request to move their T20 World Cup games out of India.

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“The correspondence cited today by the Adviser for the Ministry of Youth & Sports was in reference to an internal communication between the BCB and the ICC’s Security Department related to threat assessments for the Bangladesh team ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” the BCB said.

“This does not constitute a formal response from the ICC to the BCB’s request for the relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India.

“The BCB reiterates that it has formally raised concerns regarding venue arrangements and has requested relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India in the interest of the team’s security. The Board confirms that it is still awaiting an official response from the ICC on this matter,” the board concluded.

For the unversed, the entire development follows Bangladesh’s ace pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The decision was taken in accordance with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), prompting a strong response from Bangladesh.

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ICC considers alternate venues for Bangladesh’s World Cup games: reports

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly exploring alternate venues within India to host Bangladesh’s matches during the T20 World Cup 2026, amid an ongoing standoff with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) over security concerns.

According to a report by Cricbuzz, the ICC is unlikely to approve BCB’s request to shift Bangladesh’s fixtures entirely out of India to Sri Lanka, despite repeated representations from the board.

With less than four weeks remaining before the tournament begins on February 7, logistical challenges are understood to be a major factor behind the ICC’s reluctance.

The dispute escalated following recent geopolitical tensions between India and Bangladesh, after which BCB formally requested a venue change, citing concerns over player safety.

The issue gained further traction after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders on the recommendation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

While the ICC has assured full security arrangements, BCB officials have maintained their stance, stating that playing on Indian soil could compromise the safety of their players.

The ICC is yet to officially respond to BCB’s second formal letter on the matter, but reports suggest the request for relocation to Sri Lanka is expected to be rejected again.

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Instead, the ICC, in consultation with the BCCI, is considering shifting Bangladesh’s matches to alternative venues within India. Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram have emerged as potential options.

Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play three group-stage matches in Kolkata, against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14, before travelling to Mumbai to face Nepal on February 17.

However, Cricbuzz reported that both the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) have been approached regarding the possibility of hosting the matches.

The TNCA has indicated its readiness to accommodate additional fixtures at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, citing the availability of eight prepared pitches.

The KCA has also expressed a strong interest in hosting matches in Thiruvananthapuram.

Chennai is already a confirmed venue for the tournament and is set to host several matches, including a potential Super 8 fixture involving India. Thiruvananthapuram, meanwhile, is not part of the original venue list.

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