ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday strongly condemned the International Cricket Council (ICC) for issuing a “selective and premature” statement regarding the deaths of three Afghan cricketers, rejecting allegations that Islamabad carried out airstrikes targeting civilians.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Tarar wrote: “Pakistan, a prime victim of cross-border terrorism, rejects the ICC’s selective, biased, and premature comment that advances a disputed allegation.”

He added that “the ICC has cited no independent verification to substantiate these claims,” accusing the global cricket body of echoing unverified statements from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and its allies to create an “orchestrated echo chamber.”

The minister also questioned the ICC’s neutrality, noting that Chairperson Jay Shah, who is Indian, had “publicly echoed the same claim within hours.”

Tarar said Pakistan “strongly rejects the characterization” made by the ICC and called for “an immediate correction.”

He warned that under its current leadership, the ICC had shown “a pattern of avoidable controversies” aimed at undermining Pakistan cricket, citing the recent “handshake controversy” during the Asia Cup as an example.

“Politics must not contaminate sport,” Tarar said, urging the ICC to “restore its neutrality, uphold fair play, and avoid becoming part of political narratives.”

Earlier this week, Pakistan carried out precision airstrikes in Afghanistan targeting what it described as terrorist sanctuaries used for cross-border attacks against Pakistan. The military’s media wing said the strikes followed repeated warnings to Kabul.

In response, the Afghanistan Cricket Board withdrew from a planned T20 tri-series in Pakistan, alleging that three local cricketers were killed in a Pakistani military strike in Paktika province.

The ICC later expressed solidarity with the ACB and condemned the “act of violence” — a stance Pakistan dismissed as based on “disputed and unverified claims.”

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Pakistan urges ICC to maintain neutrality after remarks on Afghan cricketers