India vs Pakistan World Cup match will be held at Manchester on June 16. (Source: Instagram) India vs Pakistan World Cup match will be held at Manchester on June 16. (Source: Instagram) Following the Pulwama terror attack that left 40 Indian CRPF personnel dead, emotions have been running high across the country. Unsurprisingly, Indian cricket fans have been no exception to this and there is a growing clamour for the Indian cricket team to boycott its match against Pakistan at the ICC World Cup 2019, in Manchester on June 16. From former cricketers to politicians, several voices have spoken on the matter, and the general consensus has been that terror and cricket cannot go together. Kapil Dev: Former Indian skipper Kapil Dev on Friday joined the debate regarding India’s clash against Pakistan in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup. The all-rounder said that it is the government who will decide that the team will go ahead with the clash and urged people to refrain from passing their individual opinions. The skipper, who led to India to their major World Cup triumph in 1983, was quoted by ANI as saying: “To play or not to play is something which does not have to be decided by people like us. It has to be decided by government. It’s better if we don’t give an opinion and leave it to government and concerned people. What they decide will be in interest of the nation. We’ll do what they want.” Sachin Tendulkar: The batting legend said that he would “hate” to see India give away two points to Pakistan by forfeiting the match. “India has always come up trumps against Pakistan in the World Cup. Time to beat them once again. Would personally hate to give them two points and help them in the tournament. “Having said that, for me India always comes first, so whatever my country decides, I will back that decision with all my heart,” said Tendulkar in a tweet. Harbhajan Singh: The former India off-spinner said that “country comes first” and India should avoid facing their arch-rivals in the World Cup. “There is no need for any relations with Pakistan, let alone cricket,” Harbhajan told India Today. “Don’t play the World Cup match with Pakistan on June 16 — country comes first for all of us and we are all standing with our forces,” he said, adding, “Pakistan has been promoting cross-border terrorism and this attack was unbelievably shocking.” Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad: Prasad called for a complete ban on cricketing ties with Pakistan. “I cannot make any comment [on cricket issues] except to say those who are demanding it has some justification. You can see many films and concerts have been cancelled. Things are not normal. If things are not normal, the jhappiyan-pappiyan (hugs and kisses) issues have always been there,” Prasad was quoted as saying by India Today. “Since it’s an international tournament, the ICC and our Indian cricket board (BCCI) have to take a call after consideration with our security establishment,” he added. ICC Chief Dave Richardson: The ICC CEO hinted that there won’t be any change in the schedule. “There is no indication that any (of the) matches at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will not go ahead as planned,” Richardson said. “Sport, in particular, cricket, has the wonderful ability to bring people together and unite communities and we will work with our Members on that basis,” he added. Former India allrounder and UP Minister Chetan Chauhan: “World Cup, Olympics is decided years ahead. We don’t play bilateral series with Pakistan. The best thing to do is to throw Pakistan out of the World Cup. Every country is worried with the growth of terrorism in Pakistan. It’s a problem for everyone. We should exert pressure on ICC to throw Pakistan out of the World Cup. If Pakistan do not play the World Cup, it won’t make any difference. If India do not play, the ICC will suffer losses. India bring in 65 to 70 per cent of the sponsorship,” Chauhan told Aaj Tak. BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry: “The BCCI had resolved at the Special General Meeting that the members participation agreement shall not be executed without the authorization of the general body of the BCCI and the BCCI reserves all its rights regarding the MPA and regarding its participation in any other multi-nation tournament or games not covered by the MPA. That answers your question,” he told Hindustan Times. Former India batsman VVS Laxman: “We have to rally behind our security forces. In this time of mourning, we have to stand with the families of the soldiers killed. We have to make sure that terrorists and terrorism end once and for all. And hence, cricket is the last thing on my mind,” he said at the WION Global Summit. Former India captain and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) official Sourav Ganguly: “This is a 10-team World Cup and each team plays matches against every other team and I feel if India doesn’t play a match in the World Cup, it won’t be an issue,” Ganguly told India TV. “I feel it will be really difficult for ICC to go on with a World Cup without India. But, you also have to see if India has the power to stop ICC from doing such a thing. But, personally I feel a strong message should be sent. And, whatever reactions came from the people of India…was right. There is no chance of a bilateral series with Pakistan after this incident. I agree that after this attack, India should not only stop playing cricket, hockey or football with Pakistan but should cut all ties with them.” Former BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel spoke to The Indian Express and said, ““How can you expect India to play Pakistan at the time we have lost so many of our brothers in these cowardly terrorist attack. I am of the firm view that India should not play Pakistan in the coming World Cup.” “If we play the World Cup, then it’s clear that game is bigger than the country’s image. 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,” he added. Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Rajiv Shukla also reiterated that possibilities of bilateral matches between the two countries are nil unless the government gives its nod. “Our position is very clear. Unless the government gives us nod, we are not going to play with Pakistan. Sports should be above all these things but if somebody is sponsoring terrorism, obviously it will affect sports also,” Shukla told reporters. When asked if India will play against Pakistan in the World Cup, Shukla said, “That we can’t tell you right now. The world cup is far away. We will see what happens.” Former India player Aakash Chopra: “It’s a question whether India should be playing against Pakistan in the World Cup or not. Do we need to answer it now? The wounds of the attack are very fresh. What has happened in Pulwama has hurt all of us. We are all pained and saddened. We will always make decisions based on emotions. But do we need to make that decision right now? I don’t think we are obliged to make that decision today,” he told India Today. “All progressed nations in the world don’t mix politics with sport. They don’t use sports as a vehicle to push their political agenda. I firmly believe India is a first-world country and not a third-world country. We are not a regressive nation in any way. We are a proud nation that actually is mature enough to distinguish between the two (sport and politics).” “We are already not playing bilateral cricket with them. You want to be the world champions. You want to be the best.<doc-sep>Yuzvendra Chahal, Team India's spinner mainstay, said on Friday said that the players will follow the orders of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the chorus grows for boycotting the India-Pakistan World Cup 2019 match. Speculations are rife that India might refuse to play the World Cup game between India and Pakistan, scheduled to be played on June 16 in Manchester. However, there has been no official announcement from any of the boards. "It's not in our hands. If the BCCI says, we will play. If they say no then we won't," Chahal said. There have been growing demands that India should boycott their clash against Pakistan during the World Cup starting May 30 in England and Wales, as a mark of protest against the Pulwama terror attack in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed and was claimed by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed. Expressing anger over the terror strike, Chahal demanded firm action against those behind the barbaric attack. "If we don't take action, nothing will change. This is high time. We should take a firm action. There are people in Pakistan who are not at fault but those who are behind the attack should be punished," Chahal said. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) is scheduled to hold a meeting on Friday to take a decision on the India-Pakistan World Cup match issue. Promoted Diana Edulji, member of CoA, said that they will follow the due procedure, which is taking opinion from External Affairs Ministry, Sports Ministry and Home Ministry, and then take a call. (With ANI inputs)<doc-sep>India are set to play Pakistan in a group stage match in the World Cup on June 16, 2019. (Source: BCCI/Twitter) India are set to play Pakistan in a group stage match in the World Cup on June 16, 2019. (Source: BCCI/Twitter) The Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Advisors and the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Friday sent a letter to the International Cricket Council in which it urged the cricketing community “to sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates.” The board also expressed concern over the safety and security of players, match officials and “fans of Indian cricket” at the upcoming World Cup to be held in England from May 30, 2018. Full Text: The BCCI wishes to address concerns and sentiments that have emerged after the recent dastardly terrorist attack which was carried out on Indian soil by a terror outfit based out of Pakistan which resulted in the death of 44 Indian security personnel. In view of the aforesaid terrorist attack, BCCI fears for the safety and security of players and match officials participating in upcoming ICC events including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Most countries from which the members of the ICC hail (including the United Kingdom) have strongly condemned this terrorist attack and expressed solidarity with India. BCCI urges the cricketing community to sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates. The BCCI also wishes to express its concerns over the safety and security of fans of Indian cricket at the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The BCCI trusts that the ICC and ECB will ensure that the most robust security is provided to players, match officials and fans of Indian cricket for the upcoming World Cup. The BCCI reserves all its rights and entitlements in this regard. The Supreme Court Appointed Committee of Administrators<doc-sep>
Following the Pulwama attack, some of the fans and cricketers from India asked the national team to call off its match against Pakistan at the ICC World Cup 2019, in Manchester on June 16. India spinner Harbhajan Singh recently told a news channel that "country comes first" and Team India should not play Pakistan in the World Cup. However, International Cricket Council CEO Dave Richardson said there is no such indication as of now that the match will be cancelled, adding that he doesn't foresee any change in the schedule. "Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this terrible incident and we will be monitoring the situation with our Members," Richardson said, offering his condolences on the terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. "There is no indication that any (of the) matches at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup will not go ahead as planned," Richardson said. "Sport, in particular cricket, has the wonderful ability to bring people together and unite communities and we will work with our Members on that basis," he added. Even the men who mattered in the BCCI said that not playing Pakistan in the World Cup is a "long shot" as of now. "Harbhajan had shared his point of view but he didn't clarify what happens if we are again pitted against them in semi-final or suppose final. Does that mean that we will be forfeiting World Cup semi-final or final? So we are all talking about hypothetical situations," a senior BCCI official said. "For the record, India played Pakistan in a World Cup game in England in 1999 edition when Kargil War was at its peak," the official added. On Monday, Harbhajan said: "India should not play Pakistan in the World Cup. India are powerful enough to win the World Cup without having to play Pakistan." "This is a difficult time. The attack that has happened, it was unbelievable and it's very wrong. Strict action will surely be taken by the government. When it comes to cricket, I don't think we should have any relations with them otherwise they will keep treating us like this," he added. Harbhajan said India doesn't need to revive any sort of sporting ties with Pakistan as a mark of respect for the martyred CRPF Jawans. "I don't think India should play the World Cup match against Pakistan. Country comes first and we are all standing behind our country. Cricket or hockey or sports, it should be kept aside because this is a huge thing and repeatedly our soldiers are killed," the veteran off-spinner had said. Many affiliated units have removed photos and portraits of Pakistani cricketers with one of the oldest units Cricket Club of India (CCI) leading the way by covering a portrait of Pakistan PM Imran Khan. Promoted Punjab Cricket Associations (PCA) and Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) have also removed the pictures of Pakistani players. (With PTI inputs)