'Cricket can open doors': Shahid Afridi's surprising post on Pakistan's India boycott

The statement drew attention because Shahid Afridi himself has been part of a controversy surrounding politics and cricket. (Image credit: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi found himself in the eye of a controversy once again after his government confirmed that Pakistan would boycott its match against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The two sides are scheduled to meet in Colombo on February 15, but Pakistan’s government has instructed Salman Ali Agha’s team not to take the field against India. The PCB had reportedly been considering skipping the India game ever since the ICC excluded Bangladesh from the tournament.

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Afridi, long a vocal advocate for keeping sports and politics separate, expressed regret over the decision but stopped short of criticising his government. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “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.” The statement drew attention because Afridi himself has been part of a controversy surrounding politics and cricket. During the World Championship of Legends at Edgbaston, India Legends pulled out of a match against Pakistan Legends. Afridi had then remarked, “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,” seemingly taking a jab at former India batter Shikhar Dhawan. Now, Afridi appears to be supporting political interference at one of cricket’s most prestigious events. The Pakistani government cleared the national team to compete in the T20 World Cup starting February 7, but explicitly barred them from facing India. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, runs until March 8 and features 20 teams. Pakistan opens its campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Group A, which also includes India, the United States, and Namibia.

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