In a sharp and candid assessment, legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev has criticized the Pakistan government’s decision to boycott their scheduled T20 World Cup 2026 match against India. Speaking on the escalating diplomatic standoff, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain lamented the impact of political interference on the sport, specifically targeting the people behind the decision. He warned that such moves are essentially ‘killing’ the future of young Pakistan cricketers who deserve to showcase their talent on the world stage rather than being used as pawns in a political stalemate.
Kapil Dev’s full critique: Pakistan are destroying the next generation
Kapil did not hold back in his disappointment, framing the boycott as a self-inflicted wound for Pakistan’s cricketing legacy. In exclusive discussions with NDTV, he emphasized that while political tensions are not new, the current selective boycott is particularly damaging to the players who have committed no mistake. He stressed that a country’s reputation is built on the field and that blocking athletes from competing only serves to diminish their standing in the eyes of the global community.
“If the decision was taken by the players, they can come out and say. However, if the board says that you will not play, the reputation of the country comes down,” Kapil said.
“It is not looking bright for Pakistan. You are killing the generation. Pakistan have given us fantastic talents over the years. But if you will not allow these boys to play in the World Cup, you are killing the generation and hurting the game. You are being unfair to your own players. The emotions and spectators will be impacted. But, in the long run, no one will miss them. People will not think about it for a long time and they will ultimately move on,” Kapil concluded.
T20 World Cup 2026: Looming threat of ICC sanctions over Pakistan
The controversy reached a boiling point on February 1, 2026, when the Pakistan government officially barred its team from facing India in their Group A clash on February 15 in Colombo. While the team has been cleared to play other matches in Sri Lanka against the Netherlands and the USA, the selective boycott of India serves as a symbolic protest against the ICC’s recent governance and the removal of Bangladesh from the competition.
This situation is historically unique because, unlike previous boycotts by Australia in 1996 or New Zealand in 2003 which were based on venue safety, Pakistan are willing to play in the neutral venue of Sri Lanka but is targeting a specific opponent for purely diplomatic reasons. By skipping the high-profile game at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Pakistan will automatically forfeit two points to India, provided Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav is present at the toss. The ICC has expressed ‘serious concern,’ warning that this selective participation violates the spirit of global competition and sets a dangerous precedent.
Also READ: Pakistan’s boycott of India match in T20 WC 2026: List of teams that forfeited ICC event matches
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