India Should Not Play Pakistan In The World Cup: Ex-BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel

Former BCCI secretary Sanjay Pate has opined India should not play against Pakistan in the upcoming ICC World Cup.

The call to boycott Pakistan in the upcoming ICC World Cup in the wake of Pulwama terror attack is finally gathering steam. India are set to lock horns against their arch-rivals in the blockbuster contest on June 16 in Manchester. But as the country mourns the death of the CRPF personnel in the ghastly attack, there have been calls to boycott Pakistan in the showpiece event.

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 cricketing fraternity is doing all it can to protest the attack.  On Sunday, IMG-Reliance pulled out of its deal to produce television coverage of the ongoing Pakistan Super League worldwide.  Before that, DSport, which was broadcasting the game in India, had also stopped the coverage. In other show of protests, Cricket Club of India had covered the portrait of former Pakistan skipper Imran Khan in its restaurant. On Sunday, the PCA stadium in Mohali had removed the pictures of the Pakistani players.

And now ex-BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel has come forward to opine that India should not play against Pakistan in the upcoming event.

“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,” Sanjay Patel told The Indian Express.

Prior to Patel, IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla had also expressed the same sentiments, saying:

“I’ve always said that sport is above politics but now it will hamper sporting ties too, not until Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is stopped.”

Patel said the decision-makers in the board should take consider the public’s view in the wake of the attack.

“If we play 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 said.