BCCI Declines PCB's Offer to Visit Pakistan for the 2019 PSL Final

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has declined the invitation of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to come and watch the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final slated to be played in Karachi on 17^th March. ICC President Shashank Manohar who is also an Indian has declined the offer citing personal reasons.

The PCB had sent out invitations to all the board to come and watch the final of the PSL. It also included BCCI. However, they had declined the offer. But n all likelihood officials from Afghanistan, England, Ireland, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka are expected to travel to Pakistan for the final of the tournament.

BCCI decided to not send its officials to Pakistan

The decision of BCCI to not send it’s officials to Pakistan for the PSL final is certainly due to the recent Pulwama attacks. The current political scenario isn’t great between the two countries. The attacks led to a war-like situation in both countries. The IAF also destroyed the terrorist organization of Jaish-e-Mohammad’s base camp in Balakot of Pakistan.

However, the situation improved and also deescalated after IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Vartaman was released by Pakistan on 1^st March. He was captured by the Pakistan army after the dog fight between the two countries. DSports and IMG Reliance had earlier backed out of broadcasting the PSL. They also stopped airing the 4^th edition of the tournament live in India.

In the Pakistan Super League, Karachi is slated to host 8 matches in the Pakistan leg of the tournament. Three matches which were originally slated to be played in Lahore was shifted owing to political and military issues between India and Pakistan.

After the Pulwama attack, there were widespread hue and cry from all quarters of boycotting the match against Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup. However, Committee of Administrators chairman Vinod Rai on Thursday said that the World Cup is still a few months away and a decision will be taken before the tournament. However, they are still hoping for a ban on any countries which harbours terrorism. Many former cricketers felt they won’t like India conceding two points to Pakistan especially given their unbeaten record against their arch-rivals in the tournament.