Who is Imran Khwaja? ICC official communicating with PCB over IND vs PAK row in T20 World Cup 2026
(Courtesy : ICC)
Imran Khwaja is the deputy chairman of the International Cricket Council.
The IND vs PAK clash in the T20 World Cup 2026 has become the focus of discussions at the moment, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) still uncertain about facing their arch-rivals in the highly anticipated match. Both teams are placed in Group A and scheduled to lock horns on February 15 in Colombo.
Since the Pakistan government has denied permission to PCB to play against India in the 20-team tournament, the latter is conducting talks with ICC to find a solution to the issue.
The global cricket body has deployed Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja as a mediator, who is engaging in talks with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
On Sunday, Khwaja arrived in Lahore to hold an official meeting with Naqvi on this matter. Moreover, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam has also joined the meeting on PCB’s request.
Notably, Khwaja held unofficial discussions with Naqvi through backdoor channels over the last few weeks, ever since the ICC became aware of the Pakistani government’s decision. He also informed the PCB chief about the repercussions they could face with their decision to skip their clash against India.
Who is Imran Khwaja?
Imran Khwaja is a lawyer by profession and has been part of ICC’s inner circles since 2008. He was elected to the post of deputy chairman in 2017. He has chaired and served the organisation’s committees like Finance & Commercial Affairs, Nominations, Membership, and Development.
He was the man behind ICC’s modern constitution, which reshaped voting power and enabled Associate nations to have a stronger voice.
During former ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar’s tenure, Khwaja, as chairman of the Associates, attempted to democratize the ICC board, ensuring that major cricket-playing nations don’t overpower the smaller ones.
When Manohar stepped down in 2020, he took over as the interim chair and guided the ICC’s activities during the pandemic-affected time. Later that year, he contested the chairmanship but lost narrowly to Greg Barclay after two rounds of voting.
Khwaja was re-elected as an Associate Member Director at the ICC AGM in Colombo earlier this year and continues to serve as the ICC’s Deputy Chair alongside Chairman Jay Shah.
Khwaja, a representative of the Singapore Cricket Association, is being seen internally as a rare impartial member who can help resolve the India-Pakistan issue.
He is respected among full and associate members, and administrators across the subcontinent and beyond trust him. Now, he is working to ensure that politics stay away from cricket.
Who is Imran Khwaja?
Imran Khwaja is the deputy chairman of the International Cricket Council.
When will the India vs Pakistan match take place?
The India vs Pakistan match will take place on February 15 in Colombo.
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Vikas Singh Derek is a core cricket-lover since childhood and has always followed the sport both in his personal and professional life. He started his school life by watching cricket at home with family. Later, he played cricket on the field at local clubs during college. After his Master's in Journalism from Mumbai, he followed his passion by covering cricket news across various digital media. Since 2015, he has been an aspiring sports journalist and cricket content writer with over 50K+ articles.