BCCI VP says India cant refuse to play Pak amid calls to scrap T20 WC tie

The vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Rajeev Shukla on Monday said that the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup tie cannot be halted due to commitments made to ICC. Virat Kohli and company are set to face archrivals Pakistan in their opening game of the tournament on October 24. 

Several Indian politicians including Union Minister Giriraj Singh asked for ‘reconsideration’ of the India vs Pakistan match a result of the targeted killings of civilians especially non-local in Jammu and Kashmir in the last week. 

Also read: T20 World Cup: India unbeaten against Pakistan in last 5 encounters

“I think if relations (between India and Pakistan) are not good then this should be reconsidered,” Giriraj Singh said. 

Congress leader and former hockey player Pargat Singh also called for the clash to be cancelled. 

“I think such things (India vs Pak match in upcoming ICC T20 World Cup) should be halted…so that Pakistan get a message that if they keep supporting terrorism, India will not stand by them on any matter,” Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad said. 

However, Rajeev Shukla said that no team can refuse to play another side in a tournament organised by International Cricket Council (ICC).

Also read: Pakistan to get blank cheque if they beat India in T20 World Cup

“We strongly condemn killings in (Jammu and Kashmir). Strict action should be taken against terror organisations. As far as the match (T20 WC IND vs PAK) is concerned, under ICC’s international commitments you can’t refuse to play against anyone. You’ve to play with teams in ICC tournaments,” Rajeev Shukla who is also the Congress leader told ANI.

India, on Monday, play England in the first warm-up game. The men in blue are scheduled to play one more practice match before facing Babar Azam’s Pakistan.