Pakistan has strongly rejected the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) claim that several Afghan cricketers were killed in an airstrike while returning from a friendly match.
Islamabad called the statement “unverified, biased, and politically motivated”, warning that such actions could undermine the global reputation of cricket.
Pakistan rejects ICC’s claim as baseless
In a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar said that the ICC’s claim regarding the alleged deaths of Afghan cricketers was made “without any independent verification”.
Pakistan, a prime victim of cross-border terrorism, rejects the ICC’s selective, biased and premature comment that advances a disputed allegation, as established, that three “Afghan cricketers” died in an “airstrike”. The ICC has cited no independent verification to substantiate…
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) October 18, 2025
He said the baseless allegation reflected a dangerous trend of mixing politics with sports. “The ICC must refrain from making unsubstantiated claims that damage the credibility of the game,” Tarar added in the message.
Pakistan expresses concern over ICC’s bias
Pakistan expressed serious concern over what it described as the ICC’s “unverified and biased rhetoric.” The government demanded immediate reform within the ICC to restore impartiality and fairness in its functioning.
Tarar pointed out that ICC Chairman Jay Shah had immediately supported the claim on social media, calling it evidence of a “clear political agenda” behind the statement.
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He said that such actions “confuse the game with terrorism and political disputes,” warning that this would ultimately damage the prestige of cricket worldwide.
Afghanistan’s role and ICC’s reaction
The Afghan Cricket Board (ACB) had repeated the ICC’s claim without presenting any supporting evidence. In response, Pakistan criticized the ACB’s stance, calling it “a part of false propaganda and conspiracy.”
According to Pakistan, the ICC’s reaction to the unconfirmed incident has undermined trust in its leadership, creating what officials described as a “misleading echo chamber” designed to manipulate narratives for political purposes.
Islamabad stressed that no independent or verified reports confirm the alleged airstrike that supposedly killed Afghan players.
Pattern of bias against Pakistan alleged
The Pakistani government also referred to what it called a “pattern of bias” against Pakistan within the ICC, citing recent controversies such as the “handshake incident” involving Pakistani players.
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Officials said these repeated actions suggest an institutional prejudice that threatens cricket’s neutrality and sportsmanship.
Pakistan’s warning to the ICC
In its concluding statement, Pakistan warned the ICC that conflating sports with political or security disputes would harm cricket’s global reputation.
“The ICC must restore its impartiality and uphold the spirit of the game,” the information minister said, urging the governing body to treat all member nations equally and avoid politicized statements in the future.
