As Pakistan walked back on its decision to boycott the scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India on February 15 in Colombo, Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi stirred another controversy by openly bringing Army Chief Asim Munir’s name into the conversation. Naqvi’s words are seen by many as an attempt to turn cricket spirit into a military signal.
Naqvi, while speaking at a press conference on Monday, said Pakistan stood firm in its decision despite concerns of action from the ICC. “Neither am I intimidated by the threats from India and the ICC, nor is the Government of Pakistan, and as for Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, you already know about him; he never gets afraid,” Naqvi said in a bizarre statement.
Naqvi is the interior minister in Pakistan, and his statement is seen as a bid to boost Munir’s stature in the conflict-ridden country that is struggling with domestic chaos.
Interestingly, Pakistan is now pinning its decision on “request” from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and Bangladesh.
Pakistan, who are scheduled to play all its matches in Sri Lanka, would have forfeited two points if it had withdrawn from the match and also dealt a serious blow to the tournament since an India-Pakistan clash remains cricket's greatest blockbuster.
"In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup," the government said in a post on X.
