Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif has warned that Pakistan refusing to face India in World Cup tournaments could directly harm the International Cricket Council (ICC) and disrupt international cricket.
In a post on X, Latif said such a decision would be a bold stand by Pakistan but would carry serious consequences. He said the move would be formally recorded as an official protest and would not be limited to a single tournament.
According to Latif, the impact could extend to future events, including the 2027 World Cup, the Women’s World Cup, the Under-19 World Cup, and all Asia Cup matches. He said this would challenge the ICC’s governance structure and its financial reliance on India–Pakistan fixtures.
Latif also highlighted the longer international calendar, noting that India is set to host the Champions Trophy in 2029 and co-host the 2031 World Cup with Bangladesh. He said organizing these tournaments would require strong diplomacy and could become difficult under such conditions.
He further warned that the situation could worsen if Bangladesh also decides not to co-host with India, potentially pushing international cricket into administrative and financial trouble.
Latif added that without marquee India–Pakistan matches, broadcasters could reconsider their investments, putting billions of dollars in broadcast revenue and global scheduling at risk.
