Vinod Rai, ICC World Cup 2019
Credits - Getty

In the wake of the dastardly terrorist attack in the Pulwama district of Kashmir, Cricket Club of India (CCI) secretary Suresh Bafna has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to not play against Pakistan in the upcoming ICC World Cup.

On Thursday, a suicide bomber from the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus in Pulwama district, killing at least 40 personnel and leaving many critically wounded.

The bus was on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in Lethpora town, about 30 km from Srinagar when the attack took place. The entire nation is in a state of shock as well as furious following the gruesome attack. The whole of India is condemning the attack and paying tribute to the fallen brave souls.

Boycott Pakistan In World Cup: CCI Secretary Suresh Bafna
India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series in 2012 (Credits: AFP)

The Government of India, on the other hand, has started taking the actions to make Pakistan pay for their cowardly attack.  On Saturday, the government hiked the customs duty on all goods imported from Pakistan to 200% with immediate effect, a day after it revoked the most favoured nation (MFN) status that it had given its neighbour in 1996.

And now, Suresh Bafna feels Indian cricket should also follow suit and avoid playing against Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup.

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“We condemn the terror activities carried out against our army and CRPF personnel. Though CCI is a sporting association but nation comes first even before sports,” he told ANI.

He further said that if Pakistan truly believes they had no part to play in the incident, their Prime Minister should come out in the open and issue a statement on the matter.

“He (Imran Khan) should respond. He is the Prime Minister and if he believes that Pakistan has no role to play in the attack then why is he not coming out openly. He should come out openly. People should know the truth. He is not coming out openly which means that there are Stains in their folds,” said Suresh Bafna.

Boycott Pakistan In World Cup: CCI Secretary Suresh Bafna
(Credits: Getty)

Meanwhile, the CCI also decided to cover the portrait of Imran Khan which is present in their Brabourne Stadium headquarters of Mumbai.

India is scheduled to play against Pakistan on June 16 in the World Cup which starts on May 30. India have already suspended all the bilateral ties with Pakistan. The two teams have only met in ICC tournaments or Asia Cup in recent years.

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