What Will Be The Worth Of World Cup If You Haven't Beaten Pakistan: Aakash Chopra

While the majority in the nation is against playing Pakistan in the ICC World Cup in the wake of the Pulwama attack, former India batsman Aakash Chopra feels the Men in Blue should play against the arch-rivals. The bilateral relation between India and Pakistan is set to be further worsened after the attack that claimed the lives of 44 CRPF personnels last week. The cricketing ties between the two nations is also set to deteriorate further.

Indian cricket fraternity has already started showing protest to Pakistan by taking several measures. And there are now doubts over the World Cup clash between the two countries.  India are set to lock horns against their arch-rivals on June 16 in Manchester. However, with the public demanding the boycott of the game, there are huge doubts over whether the game will go ahead. The likes of Harbhajan Singh, Rajeev Shukla and several other big names have already said echoed the popular sentiments.

However, contrary to the popular view, Aakash Chopra said that India should play against Pakistan. The former Test opener said that India is progressive enough to not mix politics with sport.

“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,” Aakash Chopra 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.

“We are already not playing bilateral cricket with them. You want to be the world champions. You want to be the best. What will be the worth of that World Cup trophy if you haven’t beaten Pakistan along the way?,” added Aakash Chopra.

The BCCI is yet to comment on the issue but reports suggest the BCCI is likely to persuade ICC to not allow Pakistan in the World Cup for harbouring terrorism. The picture will become more clear after the upcoming ICC meeting in Dubai later this month.