Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information, Ata Tarar, has strongly criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its statement regarding the recent deaths of three Afghan cricketers, labeling the global cricket body’s remarks as partial and unverified.
The incident, which occurred in Afghanistan’s Paktika province during an aerial strike, led the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) to withdraw from an upcoming tri-nation series in Pakistan. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that Zimbabwe would replace Afghanistan in the event, which also features Sri Lanka.
On Saturday, both the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued messages expressing condolences for the Afghan players killed in the incident. However, neither statement mentioned Pakistan directly, though their wording implied a connection — a claim Pakistan vehemently rejects.
“Statements Based on Assumptions”
In a press release issued on Sunday, Tarar condemned the ICC’s statement for allegedly implying Pakistan’s involvement without independent verification.
“We completely reject and condemn the ICC’s statement, which seems to suggest — without evidence — that Pakistan was behind the airstrike that killed Afghan players,” Tarar said.
He emphasized that the ICC should not have acted on claims made by the Afghanistan board without conducting its own fact-finding.
“Pakistan has itself suffered greatly due to terrorism over the years,” Tarar said, demanding that the ICC retract or revise its statement to reflect neutrality and due diligence.
Concerns Over ICC’s Neutrality
Tarar also raised concerns about the timing and coordination of statements made by ICC officials and the Afghanistan board. He pointed out that ICC Chairman Jay Shah echoed similar sentiments on social media shortly after the ICC’s official statement, followed closely by a statement from the ACB.
He noted that Afghan cricketers, including stars like Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib, had publicly condemned the attack — but argued that these were emotionally driven reactions rather than evidence-based accusations.
Wider Pattern of Alleged Bias
Referring to past incidents — including the controversial no-handshake episode between Pakistani and Indian players during the recent Asia Cup — Tarar suggested there is an ongoing pattern of discriminatory behavior against Pakistan in international cricket.
“This raises serious concerns about whether the ICC is maintaining its independence and neutrality,” he said. “An international body like the ICC should not issue statements based on unverified, one-sided claims.”
He concluded by urging the ICC to avoid being influenced by external pressures and to maintain its role as an impartial governing body in international sport.
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