Pakistan's government has approved its national cricket team to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup, but with a significant caveat - the team will not play against India. The decision comes after India and Pakistan boycotted the 2023 Champions Trophy, citing escalating tensions between the two countries.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), which is led by Jay Shah, his son-in-law who is also a member of the Indian government, adopted its hybrid model for tournaments in December 2024. This means that Pakistan will not visit India and vice versa, but the ICC claimed it's all about maximizing eyeballs and tournament revenue.
The commercial benefits of the match between India and Pakistan are substantial, with the ICC reportedly earning $3 billion from its rights deal with JioStar. The two teams have been competing in every ICC men's event for 13 years, despite the fact that India has lost only once to Pakistan at a men's World Cup.
Pakistan's boycott of the tournament raises questions about the welfare of fans worldwide, particularly those in Pakistan who are eager to watch a final match at home. The last time Pakistan hosted a global event was the Champions Trophy in 1994, and the hybrid model adopted by the ICC has resulted in numerous matches being played abroad.
The jingoism surrounding cricket between India and Pakistan is toxic, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi comparing the country's Asia Cup victory to military operations against Pakistan. The scene at Pallekele during England's second T20 victory against Sri Lanka was a welcome respite from the tension.
However, the questions about what this means for the future of cricket remain unanswered. Will Pakistan reconsider playing India later in the tournament if it advances? What does "long-term implications" mean to the ICC? And how can the sport be freed from its reliance on one specific fixture?
For now, fans will have to endure a tournament that is more about revenue than sporting integrity. The welfare of fans worldwide, particularly those in Pakistan, should be the priority for the ICC, but it seems that the commercial interests of the global game are taking precedence.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), which is led by Jay Shah, his son-in-law who is also a member of the Indian government, adopted its hybrid model for tournaments in December 2024. This means that Pakistan will not visit India and vice versa, but the ICC claimed it's all about maximizing eyeballs and tournament revenue.
The commercial benefits of the match between India and Pakistan are substantial, with the ICC reportedly earning $3 billion from its rights deal with JioStar. The two teams have been competing in every ICC men's event for 13 years, despite the fact that India has lost only once to Pakistan at a men's World Cup.
Pakistan's boycott of the tournament raises questions about the welfare of fans worldwide, particularly those in Pakistan who are eager to watch a final match at home. The last time Pakistan hosted a global event was the Champions Trophy in 1994, and the hybrid model adopted by the ICC has resulted in numerous matches being played abroad.
The jingoism surrounding cricket between India and Pakistan is toxic, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi comparing the country's Asia Cup victory to military operations against Pakistan. The scene at Pallekele during England's second T20 victory against Sri Lanka was a welcome respite from the tension.
However, the questions about what this means for the future of cricket remain unanswered. Will Pakistan reconsider playing India later in the tournament if it advances? What does "long-term implications" mean to the ICC? And how can the sport be freed from its reliance on one specific fixture?
For now, fans will have to endure a tournament that is more about revenue than sporting integrity. The welfare of fans worldwide, particularly those in Pakistan, should be the priority for the ICC, but it seems that the commercial interests of the global game are taking precedence.
i feel bad for pakistani fans who wanna watch india vs pakistan match at home 
but at the same time, its not like india's gonna get any special treatment or benefits from playing the match, just more eyeballs for the icc 
what if pakistan wins and gets all the glory? will india be bitter about that too? 
let's focus on the fans first, instead of juggling commercial interests 
The fact that they're prioritizing revenue over fan welfare is just heartbreaking 
And what about all the fans in Pakistan who are dying to watch a match at home?! They must be totally crushed 
It's not like this affects just them, though - it's got major implications for cricket as a whole... but I guess that's too complicated for the ICC 
All I know is that I'm rooting for Pakistan and India to play each other ASAP 
Fingers crossed they reconsider their decision later in the tournament! 
, can't believe they're prioritizing cash over cricket now 
. I mean, I get it, the matches between India and Pakistan are super popular, but does it have to come at the expense of fans in both countries? 
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. And what about the fans who are actually passionate about the game? Don't they deserve better than just a watered-down tournament that's all about the Benjamins 
. It's like they're treating the players like pawns in a game 
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. And now, it feels like all that excitement has been sucked out of it. The tension between India and Pakistan is real, but it's not just about one match – it's about the bigger picture 
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. We're the ones who make this sport worth watching, after all 
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. Sure, India & Pakistan aren't playin' each other in the T20 World Cup, but honestly, who really cares? It's just one match, and there are plenty of other teams that could've been used instead 
. It's not the end of the world 
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... I've been following the sport for years and it's always about that rivalry between two massive nations. Now it feels like a watered-down version of the game 
meanwhile fans are gonna be stuck watching from home, and we all know how much $$$ is at stake for the icc 
. This hybrid model is so weird, like why can't they just have one big tournament instead of all these mini ones? And what does "long-term implications" even mean? Sounds like some corporate speak 
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i know tensions between india & pakistan are high but boycotting a tournament isnt gonna solve anything 
and its affecting fans worldwide esp those back home in pakistan who wanna watch the final match live 
can u believe this? no ind-pak match = total bummer for cricket lovers out there esp in pakistan lol they've been denied a home world cup final since 1994... talk about a long time ago 
what's next, a one-sided tournament where india just cruises to the finals without even playing any decent matches? 
the icc is all about that benjamins, fam 
- i mean, can we just focus on the cricket for once? 
. On a more serious note (but not too serious), I'm curious to see how the ICC plans to address the welfare of fans worldwide... maybe they can sell us some overpriced merchandise?