The Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) have decided to consult the government on the decision to play the game against Pakistan in the upcoming ICC World Cup. However, the board has also clarified that for now that they will be seeking extra security for the team during the tournament.
In recent times, there has been a call to boycott the June 16 World Cup match against Pakistan at the Old Trafford in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, which killed more than 40 CRPF personnel.
However, BCCI officials and CoA had a meeting regarding the same and the latter deliberated on the matter but did not take any position for now. Talking about the same, CoA chief, Vinod Rai said, “We are in talks with the government. No decision has been taken on the June 16 match. We are expressing two concerns to the ICC. We will ask for more protection for players during the World Cup and we will tell cricketing nations to sever ties with any nation that is a terrorist hub.”
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It has also been reported that the BCCI will also write to ICC, saying that no bilateral ties should be organized with nations that are sponsoring terrorism, without directly naming Pakistan. Rai added, “I will not make any comments about what HM has said. We are in talks with the government and June 16 is far away.”
The veteran Indian spinner, Harbhajan Singh urged the Indian team to call off their World Cup game in Manchester. Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly also echoed the words of his former teammate and even called for snapping all sporting ties with Pakistan.
CoA member Vinod Rai: 16th June (India vs Pakistan match in World Cup) is very far away. We will take a call on that much later and in consultations with the government. pic.twitter.com/AjYPD3oiAF
— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2019
IPL opening ceremony has also been cancelled and the money will be donated to the family of martyrs who died in the Pulwama attack. Describing the same, CoA chief said, “There will be no IPL opening ceremony. Instead, the money will be donated to Pulwama martyrs.”
