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Saqlain Mushtaq Alleges ICC, BCCI Influence Ahead of India–Pakistan T20 World Cup Clash
Saqlain Mushtaq on IND vs PAK: Pakistan, having won its opening two Group A matches at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, will now face India at the R. Premadasa Stadium. However, prior to this match, former Pakistani spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has sparked a new controversy by leveling serious allegations against the ICC.
The match between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 will take place on Sunday, February 15th. Pakistan won its first two matches at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Now, the match will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium. A new controversy seems to have emerged as former Pakistani spinner Saqlain Mushtaq made critical allegations against the ICC and the BCCI before the match. He said that the ICC might bow to pressure from the Indian cricket board and might alter the R. Premadasa pitch.
Pakistan is competing in all its games in Sri Lanka under the hybrid format, which has been adopted for ICC games. After winning against the Netherlands and USA, Pakistan is only one win away to reach the Super 8 round. Saqlain was asked on the Pakistani show Game On Hai whether he expected a similar pitch in Colombo for the match against India. He sparked a new controversy by saying that the ICC, under the influence of the BCCI, could change the pitch conditions, forcing Pakistan to reconsider its playing eleven.
Saqlain said that with the technology available these days and modern groundsmen, the pitch can change. You never know. We know under whose influence the ICC operates. The discussion on the show then turned to team selection, specifically the use of Faheem Ashraf, Pakistan's only fast-bowling all-rounder.
Former pacer Umar Gul and former captain Mohammad Hafeez, among the panel's experts, questioned why Faheem didn't bowl a single over in the first two matches. Saqlain retorted, "You gave Usman Tariq a match, which will give him confidence against India."
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But if you need two fast bowlers and an all-rounder up front, the entire equation changes. Look at Jimmy Neesham; he's like our Faheem Ashraf. Some days he bowls one over, others he bowls 20. Who bowls the 20th over for Pakistan? Tariq? Nawaz? Shadab? Abrar? When was the last time they did? Faheem has, for better or worse.
Gul and Hafeez expressed similar concerns and questioned Salman Agha's captaincy. They suggested that Faheem should have been used against the Netherlands and USA to build confidence before the high-pressure match against India.
