Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi has criticised Pakistan’s decision to boycott its group-stage fixture against India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, saying the spirit of cricket is diminished when politics influences sporting participation.

Speaking to IANS, Modi said, “Cricket was created to be decided on the field, not in boardrooms or through boycotts. When politics enters sport, the game loses — but fans always remember who stood for competition.”