Saqlain Mushtaq calls for peace between India and Pakistan amid T20 World Cup 2026 drama

Saqlain Mushtaq, a cricketing legend from Pakistan, has voiced his concern about political instability affecting the game of cricket between India and Pakistan. While it is sad to see what has happened to the relationship between these two countries because of the impact of politics on everything, including sports, Mushtaq is still hopeful that one day cricket will bring both countries together instead of splitting them apart. Mushtaq believes that mixing the two (politics and cricket) is bad for the game and for humanity. He is calling on players and officials to take precedence on sportsmanship and peacefully resolve disputes rather than through politics.

For many years now, the two nations have had a strained working relationship, which has resulted in the fact that neither India nor Pakistan has played in a bilateral series since 2013. Recent incidents such as Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav not shaking hands with his counterpart after a match in the Asia Cup 2025 have highlighted this continuing division. In addition, various security and political events (such as the Pahalgam terror attack) have prompted India to move to neutral locations or to not play matches in Pakistan.

Mushtaq, who enjoyed a strong friendship with many Indian players throughout his playing career, believes that cricket should provide entertainment and friendship. In an interview with ANI, he proclaimed, "Politics is our enemy and is not only causing harm to cricket but also humanity as a whole. Cricket is a sport that was created for the unification of nations, not to divide nations. " Mushtaq is requesting that sports and politics remain separate from one another.

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In Bangladesh, ICC Controversy and Pakistan's boycott stance

The present debate also includes Bangladesh, and its refusal to play at the T20 World Cup 2026 in India has led to discussions regarding the political influence of the game. Although Bangladesh officially stated they felt no security threat to their safety, the country withdrew from participation at the T20 World Cup 2026 due to what they believed to be both political and social pressures. Reports suggest that Pakistan has nearly made the announcement that they will also boycott the T20 World Cup 2026 in solidarity with Bangladesh, despite not having a legitimate reason for withdrawing from the competition.

While commenting on Bangladesh's decision, Saqlain Mushtaq made it clear that he does not support the use of cricket as a tool for political reasons. He reiterated his position that cricket should be a tool of entertainment and a way for people to unify, rather than a battleground for politicians to fight their battles. His comments have come during a time when the world of cricket seems to be struggling to find a balance between the effects of geopolitical conflicts within the sport and the essence of what cricket should represent.