The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently stated that its tournaments are built on “sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness.” However, according to a report by The Telegraph, the structure and scheduling of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 sharply contradict those claims.
According to the report, international cricket remains heavily influenced by political considerations and commercial interests. One major example highlighted is the continued refusal of India to play matches in Pakistan, even during global tournaments hosted there.
The report notes that no other major sport allows teams to avoid playing in a host nation during a world event.
During last year’s Champions Trophy, India stayed in Dubai throughout the tournament, while other teams traveled between Pakistan and Dubai. South Africa reportedly made two five-hour flights within 18 hours in anticipation of a semi-final that ultimately did not take place there.
At the current T20 World Cup, The Telegraph notes that Pakistan were uniquely informed in advance that all their matches would be played in Sri Lanka, a decision linked to regional geopolitical realities.
The report also criticizes the structure of the Super Eight stage. Unlike most sports, where group winners receive a competitive advantage, ICC tournaments use pre-seeding. As a result, teams receive no benefit for finishing first in the opening group stage.
According to The Telegraph, England’s defeat to West Indies had no impact on their Super Eight placement. Meanwhile, West Indies were placed in a group with three other group winners, while the second Super Eight group consisted entirely of teams that finished second in their respective groups.
The report states that this arrangement was designed to maximize television viewership, particularly for matches involving India.
The Telegraph further highlights concerns over match scheduling. Final group matches are not played simultaneously, meaning teams playing later often know exactly what is required to qualify.
As the Super Eight stage concludes, Pakistan could know the exact margin needed to beat Sri Lanka to advance, depending on earlier results. This, the report says, creates an uneven playing field.
India, according to the report, frequently plays the final group-stage match. In five of the last six men’s ICC tournaments since 2021, India have played last in the group phase. The same is scheduled again in 2026, when India will play the final match in both group stages.
The report also notes that India’s final group-stage opponents in recent tournaments have included comparatively weaker teams such as Namibia, Zimbabwe, and the Netherlands.
The report states that India also benefit from venue certainty in the knockout stages. Tournament regulations guarantee India a semi-final in Mumbai on March 5, regardless of their Super Eight group position. Other teams do not have the same assurance.
A similar situation occurred during the 2024 T20 World Cup, when India were guaranteed to play their semi-final in Guyana. According to The Telegraph, this allowed India to prepare specifically for local conditions.
The report concludes that while fairness may exist on the field, the organization and scheduling of ICC tournaments consistently undermine the governing body’s stated values. The Telegraph argues that commercial priorities have taken precedence over competitive integrity.
Source: The Telegraph
