Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, has called for the creation of a new international body to run world cricket, saying the current system no longer serves the game fairly. He argued that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has become too heavily influenced by India’s political power and commercial interests.
In a message shared on social media on Tuesday, Asif said a new organisation is needed to protect the true spirit of cricket and ensure equal treatment for all member countries. He claimed that decision-making within the ICC is no longer balanced and that the game is being driven more by politics and money than by sportsmanship and fairness.
These remarks come at a tense time, as relations between Pakistan and the ICC have become strained ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The situation escalated further after Pakistan announced it would boycott its group-stage match against India scheduled for February 15.
Pakistan’s decision has once again brought global attention to the long-running issue of politics influencing sports, particularly in international cricket. The controversy has sparked renewed debate about whether cricket’s governing structures are truly independent and whether all nations are being given an equal voice in the sport’s administration.
