Banning Pakistan from 2019 World Cup Would be Difficult to Implement - Sourav Ganguly

In the wake of the Pulwama attack, where more than 40 CRPF jawans got martyred; the Indian fans alongside the members of CoA have urged the BCCI to boycott Pakistan at the 2019 World Cup. The Committee of Administrators has written it to the ICC to ask other countries to cut ties with a terrorist-feeding nation at cricket’s showpiece event. Though the members of the board have said they would abide by whatever the government will decide, the ICC is yet to take any call on the same. Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly, who himself said India shouldn’t play Pakistan noted banning their arch-rivals from the mega event is not easy to implement.

The govt. has already defined terms – Ganguly

Since the 2008 Mumbai attack, there has just been a single bilateral series between both the countries on the Indian soil. Ganguly, who was at the helm when India last visited Pakistan; said the government had already defined terms with their neighbouring nation. Notwithstanding the current situation across the border, Ganguly said to ban them is not going to be easy.

“The government has already defined the terms as far as bilateral series between India and Pakistan is concerned. India and Pakistan don’t play bilateral series… the last bilateral series was played in 2006. However, I doubt the prospects of banning Pakistan from World Cup or international cricket. It is a big thing,” Ganguly told IndiaTV.

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However, he stood by his statement adding all of them (ICC, World Cup) are separate institutions and thus the implementation of it is nearly impossible. The former India captain further noted the World Cup is still far and a lot can happen until it begins.

“The ICC is a separate institution, World Cup is a separate institution and I feel it is very difficult to implement this here. This is my personal view that banning Pakistan from World Cup or international cricket won’t be possible. World Cup is still far away and we will see what happens then. But in my opinion, it will be very difficult for India or the Indian government to go to ICC and ask for a ban on Pakistan from World Cup or international cricket. There’s less than even one per cent chance of this happening,” he added.

I am unsure will it even work or not – Sourav

Sourav Ganguly then added the way the International Olympic Committee reacted when India denied visas to Pakistani shooters (participating in the ISSF World Cup in Delhi); shows how things could pan out if the BCCI try to influence the ICC on taking the step.

“You can boycott a particular country in bilateral series but it won’t be easy do the same in World Cup or international cricket. I can’t say on whether India will be able to influence the ICC to ban Pakistan from World Cup as it’s a very difficult thing to do. You just saw how the International Olympic Committee reacted when India denied visas to Pakistani shooters (participating in the ISSF World Cup in Delhi). So, it’s not an easy task,” Ganguly concluded.