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India’s legendary cricketer delivers sharp and candid assessment Kapil Dev Criticizes Pakistan government’s decision to boycott its scheduled plans 2026 T20 World Cup match against India. Speaking about the escalating diplomatic standoff, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain lamented the impact of political interference on the sport, particularly against those behind the decision. He warned that the moves were essentially “killing” the future of Pakistan’s young cricketers, who should be showcasing their talents on the world stage rather than being used as pawns in a political deadlock.
Kapil Dev’s full criticism: Pakistan is destroying the next generation
Kapil did not hide his disappointment and saw the boycott as a self-inflicted wound to Pakistan’s cricketing legacy. In an exclusive discussion with NDTV, he stressed that while political tensions are not new, the current selective boycott is particularly harmful to players who have done no wrong. He emphasized that a country’s reputation is built on the playing field, and preventing athletes from participating will only lower their status in the eyes of the international community.
“If the decision is made by the players, they can speak out. But if the board says you’re not going to play, the country’s reputation will go down.” Kapil said.
“It doesn’t look bright for Pakistan. You are killing a generation. Pakistan has given us great talent over the years. But if you don’t allow these boys to play in the World Cup, you are killing a generation and hurting the game. You are being unfair to your own players. The mood and the crowd will be affected. But, in the long run, no one will miss them. People won’t think about it for long and they will eventually move on.” Kapil concluded.
T20 World Cup 2026: Threat of ICC sanctions against Pakistan looms
The controversy reached a boiling point on February 1, 2026, when Officially banned by the Pakistani government His team will face India in the Group A match in Colombo on February 15. Although the team has been allowed to participate in other competitions Sri Lanka be opposed to Netherlands and USAIndia’s selective boycott is a symbolic protest against the recent governance of the ICC and the removal of Bangladesh from the competition.
This situation is unique in history because unlike previous boycotts Australia 1996 or New Zealand In 2003, Pakistan was willing to play at neutral venues in Sri Lanka due to venue security, but against specific opponents purely for diplomatic reasons. Pakistan will automatically lose two points to India if the Indian captain misses the high-profile match at the R. Premadasa Stadium Suryakumar Yadav Appears in the toss. The International Criminal Court expressed “grave concern” and warned that such selective participation violated the spirit of global competition and set a dangerous precedent.
