LONDON — Former England captain Nasser Hussain has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to apply consistent standards to all teams, including India, as Pakistan maintains its decision to boycott the February 15 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match against India in solidarity with Bangladesh.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast on Wednesday, Hussain said the key issue facing the ICC was consistency in how it treats member nations during politically sensitive situations. He questioned whether the governing body would take the same firm stance if India were to refuse participation in a World Cup match under similar circumstances.
“The real comparison would be if India, a month before a tournament, said their government does not want them to play in a particular country,” Hussain said. “Would the ICC be as firm and say, ‘you know the rules, bad luck, we’re knocking you out’? That’s the only thing all sides are asking for — consistency.”
Power, responsibility and franchise cricket
Hussain acknowledged that Indian fans may argue that financial strength gives India leverage in global cricket, but warned that power also carries responsibility. He said repeatedly sidelining teams could weaken international rivalries and reduce competitiveness in the sport.
He added that political tensions are now spilling over into franchise cricket, raising concerns about whether players from Pakistan and Bangladesh could face restrictions in leagues owned by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises.
Referring to England’s domestic competition, The Hundred, Hussain said he understood the England and Wales Cricket Board was monitoring the situation to ensure Pakistani players are not excluded.
Former England captain Michael Atherton, also speaking on the podcast, said he did not expect any policy changes. He quoted ECB chief executive Richard Gould as saying The Hundred remains open to players from all countries, though Atherton agreed the issue should be watched closely, noting that several teams are owned by IPL-linked entities.
Support for Pakistan and Bangladesh
Hussain said international cricket risks “shooting itself in the foot” if players are denied franchise opportunities due to political disputes. He contrasted this with other global leagues where overseas participation strengthens domestic cricket systems.
“I’m amazed how well Pakistan continue to perform despite everything they’re working against,” he said.
He also said he understood Bangladesh’s position in defending fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was removed from an IPL franchise earlier this year. Hussain said he supported Pakistan’s decision to back Bangladesh and called for a return to cricket free from political escalation.
“At some stage, someone has got to say enough with this politics — can we just get back to playing cricket?” he said.
Background to the dispute
The controversy comes amid uncertainty surrounding the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh were excluded from the tournament after refusing to travel to India, citing security concerns.
Pakistan later announced it would not play its group-stage match against India, casting doubt over the high-profile February 15 fixture scheduled to be held in Colombo.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has since confirmed the decision at the political level, saying Pakistan took the step after careful deliberation and stressing that politics should not interfere with sport, while reiterating solidarity with Bangladesh.
Hussain described the current climate in international cricket as “fairly depressing,” pointing to recent incidents during the Asia Cup, where political tensions also surfaced in on-field and off-field interactions.
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