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Who is Imran Khawaja? The ICC has tasked him with resolving the India-Pakistan match dispute. Which country is he associated with?
The ICC T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan is scheduled to be played on February 15th. The Pakistani government has instructed the team to boycott the match. The ICC has assigned its Deputy Chairman, Imran Khawaja, to negotiate behind the scenes with the Pakistan Cricket Board and find a way to keep the India-Pakistan match on the World Cup schedule.
ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja is responsible for resolving the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup dispute
New Delhi. Amidst discussions about boycotting the India-Pakistan match in the ICC T20 World Cup, Imran Khawaja has once again come into the spotlight. The Pakistani government announced that it would not field its team against India in the group match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. As a result, the ICC has pinned its hopes on its deputy chairman to handle the situation and save cricket's biggest rivalry.
A representative of the Singapore Cricket Association and a longtime ICC powerbroker, Khawaja is seen as a rare impartial figure within the organization. He commands respect and trust among both Full and Associate member nations. His responsibilities are straightforward, but politically sensitive. He is responsible for negotiating behind the scenes with the Pakistan Cricket Board and finding a way to keep the India-Pakistan match on the World Cup schedule.
The power behind the boardroom door
A lawyer by profession, 64-year-old Khawaja has been part of the ICC's inner circle since 2008 and has been deputy chairman since 2017. He has chaired several influential ICC committees, including Finance and Commercial Affairs, Nominations, Membership and Development. He was a key architect of the ICC's modern constitution, which revamped voting power and gave associate nations a stronger voice.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi meets with BCB President Aminul Islam and ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore to discuss the Pakistan–India T20 World Cup row.pic.twitter.com/nWaCO9Iynw
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) February 8, 2026
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi…
Champion of Small Countries
During Shashank Manohar's tenure, Khwaja played a key role in efforts to democratize the ICC Board, ensuring that traditional powerhouses could not suppress the voices of smaller nations. As Chairman of the Associates, he became their strongest advocate, consistently striving for inclusivity in governance. Khwaja maintained stability at the ICC through many difficult times. When Manohar resigned in 2020, Khwaja served as interim Chairman, guiding the organization through the pandemic. That same year, he also contested the election for the position of Chairman, but lost narrowly to Greg Barclay after two rounds of voting.
Still important in the future of ICC
Khawaja was re-elected as an Associate Member Director at this year's ICC AGM in Colombo. He continues to serve as Deputy Chairman, providing a seasoned balance to Jay Shah. Now, as geopolitics threatens to derail the India-Pakistan match, Khawaja is once again doing what he specializes in: working calmly, mediating patiently, and trying to keep cricket above politics.
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