Tag: ICC

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.

READ: Babar Azam surpasses Kohli to reach major T20I milestone

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.

READ: Pakistan could face major penalties over T20 World Cup boycott: report

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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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.

READ: Canada name squad for T20 World Cup 2026

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.

READ: All squads revealed for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

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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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday revealed the men’s player of the month nominees for the month of December 2025, including Australia ace pacer Mitchell Starc.

Besides Starc, West Indies Justin Greaves and New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy are among the shortlisted players.

Starc was inducted into the list on the back of his stellar Ashes series. The left-arm pacer picked up 16 wickets in the month of Dec alongside scoring 139 runs in first three Tests.

The tall left-arm quick was named player of the match in second Ashes Test for taking eight wickets and scoring 77 runs which set up Australia’s win.

Overall, Starc remained instrumental in Australia’s 4-1 success over England as  picked up 31 wickets in five matches and scored 156 runs.

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Meanwhile, Justin Greaves displayed his batting prowess in the Test series against New Zealand, amassing 283 runs at an average of 56.60 in three matches.

The right-hander was at his best during the opening match of the series at Christchurch where he scored an unbeaten 202 in the fourth innings, salvaging a memorable draw for his side.

Apart from batting, he also took five wickets in a time when West Indies needed most.

New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy had a stellar 2025 where he remained BlackCaps leading wicket-taker across formats — 81 wickets, surpassing Richard Hadlee’s record of 79 set in 1985.

He remained the leading wicket taker in the home series agianst the West Indies, scalping 23 wickets at a moutwatering average of 15.43 in three matches.

The 31-year-old was pivotal in New Zealands’ 2-0 series victory, earning him the Player of the Series award.

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The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been rated ‘unsatisfactory’ by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the conclusion of the fourth Ashes Test, with the iconic venue receiving one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

The assessment was delivered by Emirates ICC Elite Panel match referee Jeff Crowe, who pointed to the extreme imbalance between bat and ball as the key factor behind the decision.

According to Crowe, the surface offered excessive assistance to bowlers throughout the match, resulting in a rapid collapse of innings on both sides.

“The MCG pitch was heavily in favour of the bowlers. With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second, and no batter reaching a half-century, the pitch was deemed ‘Unsatisfactory’ under ICC guidelines,” Crowe explained.

The match statistics reflected those concerns. England, after winning the toss, opted to bowl first and made immediate inroads.

Josh Tongue spearheaded the attack with a superb spell of 5 for 45, as Australia were skittled for 152 in their first innings.

Batting proved just as treacherous for England, who were bundled out for 110 inside 30 overs, despite the modest total on offer.

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Australia were then forced to bat again on the opening day itself, but the struggles continued, with the hosts managing only 132 in their second innings. Travis Head’s 46 stood out as the highest individual score of the match.

England eventually chased down the target in 32.2 overs, losing six wickets in the process, with Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell making valuable contributions in testing conditions.

The fourth Ashes Test concluded in just two days, with a staggering 36 wickets falling across 142 overs and no batter managing to register a half-century, a rare occurrence at one of cricket’s most celebrated venues.

Despite the defeat, Australia had already retained the Ashes, having taken an unassailable 3–0 lead by winning the opening three Tests.

For England, the victory marked their first Test win on Australian soil since 2011, providing a rare highlight in an otherwise difficult tour.

The series will wrap up with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, scheduled to begin on January 4.

READ: New Zealand’s Bracewell announces retirement from all forms of cricket

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday fined Pakistan ace batter Fakhar Zaman 10 per cent of the match fee for the Code of Conduct breach during the Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka.

Zaman violated Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Support Personnel, which relates to showing dissent at an umpire’s decision.

The left-handed batter has been handed one demerit point, which is his first offence in a 24-month period.

“Zaman was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match,” the ICC wrote in his press release.

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Last month, Pakistan outplayed Sri Lanka in the final by six wickets.  The incident occurred in the 19th over of Pakistan’s innings, when Fakar, who made three runs, was seen arguing with the on-field umpires after his dismissal.

The sanction was proposed by Reon King of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees.

On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob, along with third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi, levied the charge.

The 35-year-old admitted the offence and accepted the sanction, hence eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

For the unversed, Pakistan emerged victorious in the final after a thrilling performance with the bat and ball.

Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Afridi starred with the ball, picking up three wickets each, which bundled out Sri Lanka for a mere 114-run total in 19.1 overs.

In reply, Pakistan chased down the target in 18.4 overs, losing four wickets in the process.

Babar Azam remained the top-scorer with 37* from 34 balls laced with two fours and a six. Saim Ayub was the other notable contributor with 36 from 33 balls, striking six boundaries.

READ: Joe Root surpasses Asad Shafiq’s Test record against Australia

The Perth Stadium pitch that hosted the first Ashes Test was rated “very good” by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday, despite the game finishing in just two days.

Under the governing body’s four-tier rating system, “very good” is the highest possible, characterising a pitch with “good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent bounce early in the match”.

This, the ICC said, allowed “for a balanced contest between batters and bowlers”.

Australia took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series with an eight-wicket win in a frantic Test that saw 19 wickets fall on day one.

England were skittled for 172 with Mitchell Starc taking 7-58 before Australia collapsed to 121-9 at stumps.

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Day two saw another flurry of wickets as England were bowled out for 164 before Travis Head’s incredible 123 off 83 balls guided Australia to victory.

Cricket Australia’s head of cricket, James Allsopp, said the rating justified “our belief Perth Stadium produced a pitch that provided a fair balance between bat and ball”.

“The dominance of some brilliant pace bowling from both sides and the frenetic nature of the contest meant the match lasted only two days,” he added.

“This was disappointing for fans holding tickets for days three and four, but we saw some incredible moments which captivated huge viewing audiences and will inspire even more kids to pick up a bat and ball this summer.”

The day-night second Test begins in Brisbane on December 4, with the wicket at the Gabba also traditionally fast and bouncy.

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