The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing strong criticism after Pakistan’s cricketers were left out of the official ticket poster for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to begin in February and will be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka.
The issue came to light on Thursday when the ICC released the ticket announcement graphic on its social-media platforms. The poster featured the captains of India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia, and England. However, it did not include Pakistan’s representative, Salman Ali Agha. This omission sparked debate among cricket fans, who questioned why a major team was not represented.
Many social-media users in Pakistan expressed concerns that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) holds an outsized influence over ICC decisions. They argued that Pakistan is a key team in the T20 World Cup and should not be excluded from promotional material that highlights participating nations. Critics claimed the decision appeared biased and damaged the spirit of fair representation.
The disappointment grew further as users pointed out that Pakistan has a strong T20 history, having won the tournament in 2009 and reached multiple semifinals and finals. Fans stated that leaving out Pakistan’s captain from the poster created an inaccurate image of the teams competing in the T20 World Cup.
Despite the reaction online, the ICC has not yet issued a statement explaining the selection of players on the poster or the criteria used for choosing featured captains. Analysts believe the cricket body may need to clarify its approach to avoid further criticism ahead of the major event.
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The T20 World Cup, scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka next year, is expected to attract global attention. As preparations continue, fans are hoping for more balanced promotion that reflects all participating teams fairly.
