Pulwama attack: BCCI yet to take a stand on playing Pakistan in World Cup

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to decide whether they will play against Pakistan in the ICC World Cup, 2019. In connection to the terror attack in Pulwama, when BCCI was asked about whether India will play against Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup, a senior BCCI official dodged the question and left it for Government of India and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to decide.

“Situation will get clearer after some time, a little closer to the World Cup. ICC has nothing to do with it. If the government at that point in time feels we shouldn’t play, it’s obvious that we won’t play,” quoted ANI a BCCI source saying.

Bilateral series have been suspended between India and Pakistan for long but the two teams have been playing in ICC tournaments. Various cricketers and former BCCI officials have denied the possibility of further playing with the neighbouring country. Former Team India player and popularly known as Turbanator, Harbhajan Singh clearly suggested that the country is above the sport and suggested that India should not play with the men in green. Former BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel shared a similar opinion.

“How can you expect India to play Pakistan at the time we have lost so many of our brothers in these cowardly terrorist attacks? I am of the firm view that India should not play Pakistan in the coming World Cup,” said former BCCI secretary.

Sanjay Patel further asserted that playing with Pakistan in the World Cup will signify that cricket is being prioritized over the nation’s image. He went on to add, “For me, India is first and it’s not only me who has such a sentiment.  Ask any Indian now, and they will be of the same view. Cricket will only take place if terrorism is stopped. I hope the current COA and BCCI takes note of it. There is always a limit to everything and this time all limits have been crossed.”

In the wake of the atrocious attack in Pulwama, Pakistan has been cornered from a cricketing point of view as well. Various associations including Cricket Club of India, Punjab Cricket Association, IMG-Reliance and DSport asserted that India doesn’t want any further relationship with Pakistan. 

However, BCCI seems to be taking a dillydally stance in the context of playing cricket with the 1992 World Cup winning country. “But the result of that would be that Pakistan will get the points of the match & if it is final (b/w India & Pakistan), they will win the World Cup without even playing. We haven’t yet approached ICC in this regard,” uttered BCCI official when asked about the will India play against Pakistan in ICC World Cup.   

BCCI, the wealthiest cricket board in the world, essentially bankrolls the ICC and given this why it is not making any efforts to ban Pakistan from the World Cup. BCCI can change yearly cricket calendar to suit IPL timings but is not powerful enough to lobby against Pakistani team? It is about time for BCCI to take a firm stand and make ICC ban Pakistan from the upcoming ICC World Cup.