Senior Indian lawmaker Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticised the growing politicisation of cricket, calling it “disgraceful” and warning that rising tensions risk damaging a sport meant to unite people.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding Pakistan’s reported move to boycott its match against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Shashi Tharoor said Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman should not have been deprived of his Indian Premier League contract in Kolkata.
“I don’t think Mustafizur should have been denied his contract to play in Kolkata. It was most unfortunate,” Tharoor said, adding that the intrusion of politics into sports was deeply troubling.
#WATCH | On Pakistan to boycott its match against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "It is pretty disgraceful that sport has been politicised in this way on both sides, frankly. I don't think that Mustafizur (Bangladeshi cricketer… pic.twitter.com/wt3wgwXZPQ
— ANI (@ANI) February 2, 2026
‘Politics has entered sports on both sides’
Tharoor described the situation as spiralling out of control, saying sport had been politicised “on both sides.” He acknowledged that Bangladesh’s response to the incident may have been excessive but said it was still a reaction to the same underlying issue.
He added that Pakistan’s stance appeared to be an attempt to show solidarity with Bangladesh, further escalating tensions in regional cricket.
Cricket should not divide
Emphasising the cultural importance of the game, Tharoor said cricket should be a means of connecting people rather than deepening political divides. He noted that the sport holds immense emotional value across South Asia and should remain above political disputes.
“Especially a sport like cricket, which means so much to all the people, should be a means of bringing us together at least on the playing field,” he said.
Also Read: Pakistan to boycott T20 World Cup match against India
Calling the situation a “wake-up call,” Shashi Tharoor urged all concerned parties to contact each other on an emergency basis. He suggested that the International Cricket Council could serve as a neutral platform to defuse tensions.
“The ICC could be the platform for it — just say, let’s call off this nonsense,” he said, warning that such disputes cannot continue indefinitely without harming the sport.
Long-term damage to cricket
Tharoor concluded by stressing that continued politicisation could cause lasting damage to international cricket. He appealed for calm, communication and cooperation, urging stakeholders to protect the integrity of the game for players and fans alike.
