In a sharp and frank assessment, the great Indian cricketer Kapil Dev They have criticized the decision of the Government of Pakistan to boycott their scheduled t20 world cup 2026 Match against India. Speaking on the growing diplomatic standoff, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain lamented the impact of political interference on the game, especially targeting those behind the decision. He warned that such moves are essentially ‘killing’ the future of young Pakistani cricketers who deserve to showcase their talents on the world stage rather than being used as pawns in a political standoff.
Kapil Dev’s full criticism: Pakistan is ruining the next generation
Kapil did not hold back his disappointment and described the boycott as a self-inflicted wound to Pakistan’s cricket heritage. In an exclusive discussion with NDTV, he emphasized that while political tensions are nothing new, the current selective boycott is particularly damaging for players who have done no wrong. He stressed that a country’s reputation is built on the field and barring athletes from competing only serves to diminish their reputation in the eyes of the global community.
“If the decision has been taken by the players then they can come forward and say it. However, if the board says you will not play then the prestige of the country goes down.” Kapil said.
“This is not looking good for Pakistan. You are killing the generation. Pakistan has given us fantastic talent over the years. But if you don’t allow these boys to play in the World Cup, you are killing the generation and hurting the game. You are being unfair to your own players. Emotions and spectators will be affected. But, in the long run, no one will remember them. People will not think about it for long and will eventually move on.” Kapil concluded.
T20 World Cup 2026: Danger of ICC ban looms over Pakistan!
The dispute reached a climax on February 1, 2026, when Pakistan government has officially banned Its team will face India in the Group A match in Colombo on 15 February. While the team has been given permission to play other matches Sri Lanka against Netherlands and this usaIndia’s selective boycott serves as a symbolic protest against the ICC’s recent ruling and removal of Bangladesh from the competition.
This situation is historically unique, because unlike previous boycotts Australia in 1996 or new zealand Pakistan is keen to play at a neutral venue in Sri Lanka, which was based on venue security in 2003, but is targeting a specific opponent for purely diplomatic reasons. R. By skipping the high-profile game at the Premadasa Stadium, Pakistan will automatically lose two points to India, provided the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav Present at the time of toss. The ICC has expressed ‘grave concern’, warning that this selective participation violates the spirit of global competition and sets a dangerous precedent.
Also read: Pakistan boycotts India’s match in T20 WC 2026: List of teams that lost ICC event matches
