Former England captain Nasser Hussain has sharply criticized the International Cricket Council, accusing the governing body of inconsistency and bias amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the T20 World Cup 2026. He backed Pakistan and Bangladesh for challenging what he described as uneven decision-making by the ICC.
The issue escalated after the Pakistan government announced on February 1 that the national team would not play its group-stage match against India on February 15 in Colombo.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the move as a protest against the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after Dhaka declined to play matches in India citing security concerns. The ICC later replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, triggering criticism across the cricketing world.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Hussain questioned whether the ICC would act similarly if India made comparable demands. He said politics has increasingly influenced cricket, eroding the sport’s ability to bring nations together.
Hussain argued that the ICC must apply the same standards to all member boards, regardless of influence or power. He said fairness and consistency remain the core demand of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
He also warned that repeatedly marginalizing teams like Pakistan and Bangladesh could weaken their cricket and damage the competitiveness of international contests.
Hussain added that politics has begun to affect franchise cricket as well, raising concerns about player inclusion, while praising the England and Wales Cricket Board for promoting inclusivity in The Hundred.
He urged cricket’s leadership to reduce political interference and refocus on the game itself.
