By S.M. Inam
Pakistan’s sharp rebuttal of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) recent statement marks another unsettling moment in the uneasy intersection of sport and politics. Information Minister Atta Tarar’s words—measured yet cutting—encapsulate a deep frustration with what Islamabad views as a recurring pattern of institutional bias against Pakistan. The episode, which began with an unverified ICC claim that three Afghan cricketers were killed in a Pakistani strike, has spiraled into a full-blown diplomatic and sporting controversy, exposing the fragility of cricket’s global governance.
Tarar’s statement was not simply a reflexive defence; it was a broader critique of the ICC’s credibility and its perceived submission to political influence. His rejection of what he termed a “biased, selective, and immature” allegation highlighted Pakistan’s position that such assertions, lacking in independent verification, are irresponsible for a body tasked with maintaining the integrity of the game. In his view, the ICC’s conduct has crossed the line from regulatory oversight into the realm of political partisanship.
The minister’s demand for an immediate retraction was accompanied by a reminder of Pakistan’s own sacrifices. For years, the country has endured the scourge of terrorism, with civilians, soldiers, and even sports figures among its victims. It is this painful reality, Tarar implied, that makes the ICC’s unfounded claim not only inaccurate but also deeply insensitive. Pakistan, a nation that has fought hard to restore international cricket to its soil after years of isolation, sees in such statements an attempt to undermine its progress and tarnish its global image.
Within hours of the ICC’s declaration, its chairman Jay Shah amplified the same claim on social media—an act that Tarar pointedly referenced as evidence of orchestrated behavior rather than coincidence. The Afghanistan Cricket Board quickly followed with a near-identical statement. To Tarar and many in Pakistan, this chain of events suggested coordination rather than coincidence—a deliberate narrative shaped to cast Pakistan in a negative light. It also raised questions about whether the ICC, under Shah’s leadership, can act as an impartial custodian of the sport when its top official is simultaneously serving as secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The overlap of interests here is crucial. Cricket, often romanticised as a game that transcends borders, has long been vulnerable to geopolitical undercurrents, particularly in South Asia. The strained ties between Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan have repeatedly spilled onto the pitch, transforming matches into symbolic battlegrounds. Under normal circumstances, the ICC’s role is to stand above such politics—to protect the sanctity of the sport from becoming an extension of statecraft. Yet Tarar’s statement implies that the council has done precisely the opposite: allowed itself to become a platform for selective narratives.
The reference to the “handshake controversy” at the Asia Cup, in which a trivial matter led to the delay of a Pakistan match, serves as an illustration of what Tarar described as a pattern of “manufactured provocations.” Whether through scheduling disputes, uneven disciplinary actions, or tone-deaf public statements, Pakistan has increasingly felt cornered by what it perceives as a hostile institutional environment. The ICC’s recent lapse, then, is not seen in isolation but as the latest in a series of actions that, cumulatively, erode trust and deepen divisions.
Beneath the minister’s rhetoric lies a broader plea for fairness and perspective. His insistence that “a global institution should not be promoting a partisan narrative” resonates beyond cricket. It is a reminder that international organisations—whether in sport, diplomacy, or development—derive legitimacy from neutrality. Once that neutrality is compromised, every subsequent action, however well-intentioned, is viewed through the lens of suspicion.
Tarar’s call for the ICC to “maintain the spirit of the game” may sound like a standard diplomatic phrase, but it carries profound implications. For Pakistan, cricket has always been more than a sport; it is an emblem of national pride, resilience, and international recognition. Any attempt to politicise it, therefore, is felt not just as a slight against the team but as an affront to the country’s dignity. His appeal is, in essence, for the ICC to return to the fundamentals of fair play and factual integrity—principles that should be non-negotiable in a body claiming global stewardship of the game.
(The writer is a former government officer and a senior analyst on national and international affairs, can be reached at inam@metro-morning.com)
