Bhubaneswar, Feb. 2 -- Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridihas reacted to his government's decision to bar the national team from playing against India at the ICCT20 World Cup 2026, striking a careful balance between personal disappointment and political support.

Pakistan and India were slated to meet in a high-profile group match in Colombo on February 15. However, following official confirmation from Islamabad, Salman Ali Agha's side has been instructed not to take the field, a move framed as a protest against the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Pakistan Cricket Board had already been considering withdrawing from the fixture, particularly after the ICC removed Bangladesh from the tournament.

Afridi, long known for championin...