Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has launched a sharp critique of Nasser Hussain’s comments on the recent India-Pakistan standoff, accusing the former England skipper of double standards. The debate flared up after Bangladesh withdrew from the T20 World Cup and Pakistan briefly threatened to boycott their high-profile group-stage match against India.

Around the same time, Nasser Hussain suggested that the ICC was effectively run by the BCCI and called for equal treatment of all teams, remarks that triggered a strong response from Srikkanth. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth pointed to England’s own stance during the 2003 ODI World Cup, when the team, led by Hussain, refused to travel to Zimbabwe and Kenya over security concerns.

According to Kris Srikkanth, that decision had competitive consequences and set a precedent that undermines Hussain’s current criticism. “He was the captain in the 2003 World Cup when England refused to go to Zimbabwe and Kenya. Why does he want to talk now?” Srikkanth said, recalling how Kenya eventually progressed to the quarterfinals after England’s withdrawal. He argued that cricket’s power dynamics have shifted, but similar situations have existed before.

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Srikkanth also highlighted the commercial realities of global cricket, suggesting that India’s massive fan base naturally gives the country greater influence in ICC matters. While stressing that no board should be “arm-twisted,” he maintained that revenue generated by Indian viewership plays a significant role in the sport’s ecosystem.

In his view, accusations of preferential treatment often overlook the financial structure that sustains international tournaments. The standoff, however, has since eased. The Pakistan government reversed its initial position after ICC officials engaged with stakeholders, confirming that Pakistan will face India in the group stage as scheduled.

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Kris Srikkanth welcomed the resolution, calling the India-Pakistan fixture “crucial for world cricket” given its unparalleled global viewership and commercial pull. He argued that a boycott would have hurt Pakistan the most, not just in terms of visibility but also fan engagement and tournament relevance. With the marquee clash back on track, attention can now return to cricket, rather than geopolitics, as the T20 World Cup builds momentum.