Sanjay Manjrekar Comments on India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Match Absence
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has weighed in on the absence of a T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan, suggesting that it may not be a significant loss. He argues that the excitement surrounding such matches has waned, as the two teams are no longer on equal footing. Manjrekar believes that the focus should shift to other competitive teams like Australia and England, which still offer thrilling encounters. His comments come in light of the Pakistan government's decision to boycott the match, scheduled for February 15. Read on to discover more about his perspective on the current state of cricket rivalry.
Feb 3, 2026, 13:06 IST
Sanjay Manjrekar's Take on India-Pakistan Rivalry
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed that the absence of a T20 World Cup group stage match between fierce rivals India and Pakistan is not a significant issue. He noted that the excitement and intensity surrounding such games have diminished over time. Manjrekar pointed out that whenever India defeats Pakistan, it often feels like they are only overcoming weaker teams, given the current standings of both sides.
His remarks followed the announcement from the Pakistan government, which stated that the national team would not participate in the match against India without providing a reason. This match was scheduled for February 15, and Pakistan is grouped with India, Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA in this prestigious tournament.
On Instagram, Manjrekar elaborated that the two teams are no longer on equal footing. He emphasized that matches against teams like Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa are now more thrilling, where defeating the opponent brings genuine pride. He believes that the lack of an India-Pakistan match will not diminish the tournament's significance. According to him, the anticipation and excitement that used to build before such matches have not translated into equally thrilling games in recent times. He attributed this to the fact that both teams have evolved differently over the years. In the past, particularly in the 90s, matches were exciting because Pakistan was a formidable team, but that is no longer the case. Now, when India wins against Pakistan, it feels akin to defeating a weaker opponent, which diminishes the sense of achievement.
He further commented on the state of Pakistan cricket, noting that he observed a stark contrast between the young talents emerging from the Indian and Pakistani cricket systems during the Asia Cup. He stated that if there is no India-Pakistan match in this World Cup, it is not a major concern, as there are still formidable teams like Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa to watch. These are the matches that fans should look forward to, and defeating these teams would be a source of pride for the Indian team. He concluded that the absence of an India-Pakistan match is not a significant matter and will not lessen the tournament's importance.