The Aryavarth Express
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has described the potential India‑Pakistan group stage match in the ICC T20 World Cup as “no big deal”, calling it a “non‑event” and likening India’s expected dominance over Pakistan to “beating minnows”.
Manjrekar’s comments came after the Government of Pakistan announced that the national team would boycott the scheduled fixture on February 15, without providing a specific reason for their decision. Pakistan is placed in Group A alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the USA in the tournament.
Taking to Instagram, Manjrekar said that the game in recent years has “never lived up to the hype and drama” historically associated with the India‑Pakistan rivalry, and argued that the two sides are no longer on equal footing competitively. He pointed out that teams such as Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa produce far more compelling contests against India, where beating the opponent truly feels rewarding.
According to him, the way Pakistan’s cricket has declined makes India’s wins feel more like routine victories over lesser teams, reducing the significance the contest once held for fans and the sport. He also said that the absence of an India‑Pakistan match won’t diminish the overall value of the T20 World Cup tournament.
Manjrekar’s remarks spark debate on whether the storied rivalry still holds the same cricketing weight it once did, especially in the context of shifting team strengths and tournament competitiveness.
