Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information, Ataullah Tarar, has criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its “selective” and “biased” response to the deaths of three Afghan cricketers. The ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed condolences for the Afghan cricketers killed in an airstrike in Paktika Province without mentioning Pakistan in their statements.
This reaction came after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) opted to withdraw its team from an upcoming tri-series in Pakistan. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that Zimbabwe would replace Afghanistan in the tri-series, which also includes Sri Lanka.
In a statement, Tarar denounced the ICC’s assertion that the Afghan cricketers were killed in Pakistani strikes, emphasizing that Pakistan has been a long-standing victim of terrorism. He called for the ICC to rectify its statement, noting the lack of independent verification of the claims made by the Afghanistan board.
Tarar highlighted the swift repetition of these claims by ICC Chairman Jay Shah and the Afghanistan board without substantial evidence. He pointed out that prominent Afghan cricketers like Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib had condemned the attack and deaths through social media.
The minister raised concerns about recent incidents, such as the no-handshake incident during the Asia Cup, suggesting a biased stance towards Pakistan in international cricket. He urged the ICC to uphold its independence and refrain from endorsing unverified claims, emphasizing the importance of maintaining neutrality in controversial matters.
Overall, Tarar questioned the ICC’s impartiality and urged the governing body to abstain from making contentious statements based on external influences.