Former ICC President Ehsan Mani has asked current ICC Chairman Jay Shah to personally visit Pakistan to help resolve the tensions that followed Pakistan’s boycott of the India–Pakistan match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
Mani believes that direct talks are necessary to calm the situation and avoid further damage to international cricket.
Pakistan decided not to play the high-profile match, which led to concerns about political and cricketing relations between the two countries.
Ehsan Mani said that instead of handling the issue from a distance, Jay Shah should meet face-to-face with officials from PCB and also hold discussions with the Pakistani government.
According to Mani, direct engagement would help address Pakistan’s concerns more effectively and reduce misunderstandings. He warned that continued tension could result in serious financial losses for international cricket, especially for major tournaments where India–Pakistan matches attract huge global audiences and revenue.
Mani also criticized the ICC’s decision to assign Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja to manage the issue. He said that such sensitive matters require leadership at the highest level and that sending a deputy was not an appropriate or effective solution. In his view, only the ICC chairman has the authority and influence needed to handle such a complex and politically charged situation.
The former ICC chief stressed that the ICC must act fairly and neutrally to protect the interests of all member boards. He added that ignoring concerns or delaying meaningful dialogue could further weaken trust between cricketing nations.
Ehsan Mani’s comments highlight the growing pressure on the ICC to take stronger and more transparent steps to resolve disputes and ensure that cricket remains free from political tensions.
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