Pakistan has strongly rejected the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) claim that several Afghan cricketers were killed in an airstrike while returning from a friendly match, calling the statement “unverified, biased, and politically motivated.” Islamabad warned that such irresponsible comments could damage the global reputation of cricket and undermine the spirit of sportsmanship.
In an official statement shared on X, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar dismissed the ICC’s claim as “baseless and made without any independent verification.”
He cautioned the governing body against “mixing politics with sports,” stressing that such unfounded remarks compromise the credibility of the game.
Tarar also expressed deep concern over what Pakistan described as the ICC’s “unverified and biased rhetoric,” calling for immediate institutional reforms to restore fairness and impartiality within the organization.
The minister accused ICC Chairman Jay Shah of amplifying the unverified claim on social media, terming it evidence of a “political agenda” aimed at maligning Pakistan. He further criticized the Afghan Cricket Board (ACB) for repeating the ICC’s allegation without providing supporting evidence, calling it “a part of false propaganda and conspiracy.”
Islamabad emphasized that no credible or independent reports confirm any airstrike resulting in Afghan cricketers’ deaths, adding that the ICC’s reaction had created a “misleading echo chamber” that manipulates narratives for political ends.
The government also cited a “pattern of bias” against Pakistan within the ICC, referencing incidents such as the “handshake controversy” involving Pakistani players.
In its concluding remarks, Pakistan warned that conflating political disputes with sports could erode cricket’s neutrality and global standing. “The ICC must restore its impartiality and uphold the spirit of the game,” Tarar stated, urging the body to treat all member nations with fairness and avoid politically charged statements in the future.
