Pakistan branded ‘minnows’, told they’re ‘not in the same league’ as India as T20 World Cup row deepens

Sanjay Manjrekar feels India vs Pakistan is no longer worth the hype, and that if their T20 World Cup match doesn't take place, world cricket won't lose much.

Updated on: Feb 3, 2026, 15:17:32 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Contrary to popular belief, the value of the T20 World Cup won’t go down, and nor will world cricket miss a big deal if the scheduled match between India and Pakistan doesn’t take place on February 15, believes Sanjay Manjrekar. The Pakistan government’s decision of their players ‘not taking the field’ against India in Colombo has raised questions over the fixture, with the ICC urging Mohsin Naqvi and Co. to rethink its stance. A lot of decisions going back-and-forth are expected over the next 10 days or so, but even if the two parties aren’t able to come reach a common ground, Manjrekar doesn’t feel it should make any difference, simply because the gulf between India and Pakistan in terms of the quality of cricket has gotten way too big.

The India-Pakistan rivalry isn't what it used to be (AFP)

Also Read: Pakistan’s boycott of India T20 World Cup match LIVE Updates

“If the India-Pakistan doesn’t happen, no big deal for me. Honestly, for a long time now – and you’ve seen it as well – the actual game never lives up to the hype and drama that we’ve had before in an India-Pakistan match. And the reason for that is also very obvious. It’s that India and Pakistan are no longer in the same league. Earlier, in the 90s and before that, it was fun because Pakistan was a strong team. Not anymore. So, if India-Pakistan doesn’t happen in this world event, no big deal,” Manjrekar said in a video shared on his Instagram.

Also Read: PCB prepares counterpunch to ICC over sanctions threat, leans on 2018 BCCI dispute; Court of Arbitration next

Manjrekar rather insists that the focus should be on India’s other matches – against the SENA nations – that should captivate the audience. And true, that. The rivalry between India and Pakistan is not what it used to be. Gone are the days of the 1990s and early 2000s, when the two teams would fight tooth and nail to outdo each other. In fact, in the last 10 years, Pakistan have defeated India only thrice – Champions Trophy final 2017, 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2022 Asia Cup. India has dominated Pakistan every step of the way, including a hat-trick of wins during last September’s Asia Cup.

‘Beating Pakistan is like beating minnows’

Meanwhile, teams like Australia and New Zealand have troubled India in ICC events, and it is in these matches that the Men in Blue’s character would truly be tested. Manjrekar has urged the public to drop the ball on the India-Pakistan rivalry and instead pay attention to much stronger units against whom India’s T20 World Cup chances will depend.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaysphotos)

“You still have Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa. Those are the matches to watch. Those are the teams India needs to beat for us to feel proud. Maybe in the ‘90s, you would have felt really nice if India beat Pakistan, but now, when India beats Pakistan, it’s almost like India is beating the minnows. That’s how much Pakistan cricket has deteriorated. And I saw that in the Asia Cup as well. You just have to compare the young players that have come into the Indian cricket system to those who have come up through Pakistan’s system. Zameen-aasmaan ka fark hai,” he added.

“For me, India vs Pakistan is a non-event. It’s unfortunate if it doesn’t happen. You don’t want somebody getting a walkover or abandonment or forfeiture, but I don’t think it’s going to bring the value of the tournament down because of the other four teams that I mentioned. India-Pakistan don’t care.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.