The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) intends to formally object the exclusion of skipper Salman Agha from the promotional poster of the T20 World Cup to the International Cricket Council (ICC). Five captains featured on the poster released on Thursday to announce that ticket sales will begin on December 11. They are Suryakumar Yadav of India, Dasun Shanaka of Sri Lanka, Mitchell Marsh of Australia, Harry Brook of England, and Aiden Markram of South Africa.
As reported by Telecom Asia Sport, PCB sources called the absence "surprising" and "concerning".
“The release of the poster is a matter of concern because it shows bias against Pakistan by not including our captain Salman’s picture. The Board is going to register its protest with the ICC,” a PCB official was quoted as in the report.
Salman has previously been excluded from prominent promotional campaigns. He was left out of the Asia Cup 2025 poster and trailer by broadcasters Sony Pictures in August; which was changed later after a forceful appeal from the PCB.
The protest during the Asia Cup carried greater weight as it was led by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
“During the Asia Cup, PCB’s protest worked because the Board had leverage. In this case, the ICC may not pay as much attention,” the report added a source as saying.
Speaking anonymously, a former Pakistani player adopted an even more forceful stance. “What is the surprise in this?” he said. “India is ruling the ICC, and they do not want any Pakistani player in their promotional events, posters, or promos.”
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