Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has called the government’s instruction for the national side to boycott the February 15 T20 World Cup group match against India a strategic ‘checkmate’ on the International Cricket Council (ICC). Speaking exclusively to News18 Cricket Next, Latif framed the directive — positioned as solidarity with Bangladesh after their removal from the competition — as shifting the dilemma from Pakistan to the tournament organisers.

The decision is politically charged and creates a practical headache. Rashid Latif points out that forfeiting a single group match still allows Pakistan to remain in the tournament, but if the boycott extends into the knockout rounds, the consequences would be chaotic.

“If Pakistan moves to the next round and there’s another match with India, and if they won’t play again, then it would be trouble,” he told News18, underlining how the ICC would be forced to find ad hoc solutions to preserve tournament integrity.

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On the sporting front, Latif remains confident about Pakistan’s chances of progressing despite losing two points against India. He argued that on spin-friendly surfaces, Pakistan can beat Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA — weather permitting — and therefore still secure one of the top two spots in Group A.

That possibility, he says, is what makes the government’s posture potent: retaining competitive credibility while registering a political protest increases pressure on the ICC to respond. For the ICC, the scenario is more than an isolated scheduling issue; it threatens rankings, commercial deals and the broader format.

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Organisers would need clear rules on forfeits in knockout matches, and broadcasters face major revenue exposure if marquee fixtures are cancelled. Latif’s ‘checkmate’ metaphor neatly captures the point: Pakistan’s move is both a sporting calculation and a political gambit, leaving cricket administrators to solve a problem that is now as much geopolitical as it is athletic. Fans worldwide will watch closely as cricket and politics collide onthe  global stage.