Daijiworld Media Network – Islamabad

Islamabad, Oct 19: Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information, Ata Tarar, has strongly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for what he termed as a “selective and biased” statement regarding the deaths of three Afghan cricketers in an aerial attack in Afghanistan’s Paktika Province.

The ICC and India’s Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had on Saturday expressed condolences without mentioning Pakistan, after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced its withdrawal from a tri-series scheduled in Pakistan next month.

Following the withdrawal, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Zimbabwe would replace Afghanistan in the series that also involves Sri Lanka.

“We dismiss and condemn this statement by the ICC, which gives the false impression that three Afghan cricketers were killed in Pakistani strikes,” Tarar said on Sunday. “The ICC did not bother to verify the ACB’s claims before issuing a statement implicating Pakistan,” he added.

Tarar asserted that Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism for years and demanded that the ICC “correct its misleading statement.” He also questioned the timing of ICC Chairman Jay Shah’s identical remarks, which were followed by similar posts from the Afghanistan board.

Several Afghan players, including Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib, had condemned the attack on social media, prompting widespread reactions online.

Tarar further accused the ICC of harbouring bias against Pakistan, citing previous incidents such as the no-handshake episode during the recent Asia Cup.

“This raises serious questions about the ICC’s independence. A sports governing body should not endorse unverified or politically motivated claims,” he said.

The Pakistani minister urged the ICC to “remain neutral and refrain from making contentious statements that could inflame regional tensions.”