“Was ICC sleeping?” - Kamran Akmal slams ICC for its alleged favoritism towards India

Former Pakistan keeper-batter Kamran Akmal, speaking on the Game Plan Show, has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its alleged favoritism and bias towards India. Notably, his comments came right after the Pakistan government decided to boycott the India group stage fixture in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. 

On Sunday, February 1, the Pakistan government gave the requisite permission to the Pakistan T20I team to take part in the showpiece campaign, but has denied permission for the national team to play against India on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo.

While speaking exclusively on the Game Plan Show, Akmal asserted that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shouldn’t back down on its decision to boycott the India game, adding that Pakistan played in India in the past despite the heightened tensions between both countries. 

“PCB should not back down. The ICC has told the Pakistan Cricket Board to reconsider its stance of boycotting the India game. Was the ICC sleeping when the Asia Cup was played under the hybrid model? Was the ICC sleeping when India said it would not play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and would only play at a neutral venue?” Kamran Akmal said on the Game Plan Show.

“How many times has Pakistan played in India despite the heightened tensions between the two countries? I have gone myself. The ICC should have thought about these things three years ago. The two countries have not played a bilateral series for years now. Wasn’t that also politics?” he added.

“Shouldn’t the ICC have thought of ending the politics then? The PCB’s decision should be respected in the same way that we respected India’s decision to play in a hybrid model. Things had reached extreme levels. During the Asia Cup, they refused to shake hands with our players and then refused to accept the trophy. They disrespected us,” he concluded.

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