Pakistan drags Jay Shah into row over ICC statement on Afghan cricketers killed in airstrikes
A Pakistani federal minister has condemned the ICC’s actions after international body Apex expressed support and condolences for the three Afghan cricketers allegedly killed in recent airstrikes on Afghan territory.
Afghanistan reported the death of 10 Afghan citizens, including three cricketers, in the Paktika border region where Pakistani aircraft launched a sudden attack defying the 48-hour ceasefire.
After the attack, the ICC issued a statement calling the act inhumane and expressed solidarity with the Afghan cricketers and their families. Even the BCCI, in a separate statement, had issued the same.
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Pakistan lashes out at ICC for biased decision on deaths of Afghan players
As the reports had claimed, the ICC also immediately took them as a reference and clearly condemned the Pakistani act, through a tweet. The ICC had indirectly held Pakistan responsible for the attacks.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information, Ata Tarar, rejected the ICC’s statement and asserted that Pakistan was not responsible for the death of the three cricketers.
“We reject and condemn this statement by the ICC which gives the impression and claims that three Afghan cricketers were killed in strikes in Pakistan,” Tarar said in a statement on Sunday, as quoted by PTI.
“The ICC did not bother to independently verify the Afghan committee’s claims and issued a statement saying it was an attack in Pakistan,” he said.
Pakistani minister questions credibility of ICC president Jay Shah
The minister then launched a sly attack on the current ICC president Jay Shah, who previously held the post of BCCI secretary, a position now held by Devajit Saikia. The minister said that Pakistan itself had been a victim of terrorism for years.
“It is strange that hours after the ICC statement, ICC Chairman Jay Shah repeated the same words on his social media account and the Afghanistan governing body followed up with similar remarks.
“The Afghan committee made statements without presenting real evidence,” he added.
Even several Afghan cricketers who are now global personalities, like Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib, condemned the attacks on Afghan territory and supported the ACB’s decision to withdraw from the three series.
Pakistan digs up Asia Cup handshake to prove ICC bias towards PCB
While discussing the actions of the ICC and in an attempt to prove their bias, the Pakistani minister once again raised the issue of handshakes snubbed by India during the Asia Cup.
“This seriously raises questions about the independence and impartial approach of the ICC. A governing body of international sport should not promote a controversial claim that has not yet been verified.”
“The ICC must remain independent and avoid making controversial statements on the incitement of others,” he said.
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