The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has voiced its strong displeasure with the International Cricket Council (ICC) after the omission of Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, from the promotional poster released for the T20 World Cup 2026 ticket sales.
A reliable source within the PCB confirmed that the issue has been raised with the ICC. The promotional material in question featured only the captains of five nations: Suryakumar Yadav (India), Aiden Markram (South Africa), Mitchell Marsh (Australia), Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka), and Harry Brook (England). The conspicuous absence of the Pakistan skipper, a major participating team, has sparked debate and criticism from fans and the board alike.
A Pattern of Exclusion
The PCB source highlighted that this is not an isolated incident. “We faced the same issues when the Asia Cup was held a few months back, and that time the broadcasters had started a promotional campaign without our captain featuring in it,” the source stated, noting that the situation was eventually resolved after the PCB contacted the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
The source added that facing a similar situation with the ICC’s official T20 World Cup promotion is concerning. The board emphasized that despite Pakistan not currently being among the absolute top-ranked T20 teams, the country’s team maintains a rich cricketing legacy and remains a significant international draw for the World Cup.
The PCB remains optimistic that the ICC will address their concerns and subsequently include Captain Salman Ali Agha in the promotional posters and marketing campaigns for the tournament, which begins on February 7, 2026, and is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.