Loud Thinking

Pakistan and Bangladesh together account for nearly half a billion people. If the International Cricket Council (ICC) thinks it can trample over the sentiments of this vast cricket-loving population to appease Indian political pressure, then it should abandon the illusion of neutrality altogether. Such conduct only hastens the ICC’s descent into an Indian Cricket Council, one that sacrifices fairness, inclusivity, and credibility for dominance, and in doing so signs its own death warrant.

From Pakistan’s standpoint, the hypocrisy is blatant. How is Pakistan expected to share a World Cup stage with India when Indian leaders openly declare that the May 25 war with Pakistan was never called off? This is not rhetoric; it is an admission of ongoing hostility. The situation becomes even more indefensible when India continues its acts of aggression by effectively suspending and violating the Indus Waters Treaty, using water as a weapon against millions of civilians.

You cannot preach peace through sport while waging undeclared war through words, policies, and treaties. Cricket cannot be used as a propaganda tool to whitewash continuous hostility. Forcing Pakistan to participate under these conditions is not “keeping politics out of sport”, it is enforcing political coercion through sport.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore – Pakistan

+92 321 9402157

25th January, 2026

nayyarahmad51@gmail.com The writer is a senior corporate leader and strategic analyst. His thought-provoking visionary insights have reshaped global discourse, capturing the attention of world leaders. His writings have not only resonated with heads of state and governments but have also influenced the foreign policies of the United States and other major powers.