India is scheduled to play Pakistan on June 16 in ICC World Cup 2019.
"India should not play Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup in the aftermath of the Pulwama terrorist attack" - this call is growing as Indian cricket team gets ready for the mega event in Britain this year.
With tension between the countries escalating, the possibility of India forfeiting their World Cup round-robin match against Pakistan, on June 16 at Old Trafford, remains high. According to World Cup rules, in case a team doesn’t play its scheduled match, the opposition team gets the points from the game.
Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is the latest to join the call for boycott saying he doesn't want India to play Pakistan in the upcoming ODI World Cup in the aftermath of the ghastly terror attack.
Harbhajan Singh said India are strong enough to win the World Cup even if they decide to forfeit the match against Pakistan in Manchester on June 16.
"India should not play Pakistan in the world Cup. India are powerful enough to win the World Cup without having to play Pakistan," Harbhajan Singh told a news channel.
"This is a difficult time. The attack that has happened, it was unbelievable and it's very wrong. Strict action will surely be taken by the government. When it comes to cricket, I don't think we should have any relations with them otherwise they will keep treating us like this," he added.
Earlier, various cricket administrators and fans have also called for the boycott of the game after the terror attack in Pulwama that killed 40 personnel CRPF personnel. India already does not play bilateral series with Pakistan but the teams have played against each other in ICC tournaments.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 will be held in England and Wales from May 30, 2019 to July 14, 2019. This time, in the first round of the tournament the ten teams will play against each other. The top four teams will progress to the semifinals. The participating teams are England (hosts), Australia, Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and West Indies.
1. Harbhajan thinks India should not play against Pakistan
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Harbhajan said India doesn't need to revive any sort of sporting ties with Pakistan as a mark of respect for the armed forces. "I don't think India should play the World Cup match against Pakistan. Country comes first and we are all standing behind our country. Cricket or hockey or sports, it should be kept aside because this is a huge thing and repeatedly our soldiers are killed."
"We should stand with our country. Cricket or hockey or any sport, we don't need to play with them," he said. "We should not keep any kind of ties with Pakistan: we are powerful enough to feed the world on our own. Cricket, sports is not as important. We stand with every member of the defence force. Their sacrifices should no go to waste."
2. BCCI should respect mood in the country: Sanjay Patel
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Former BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said the decision-makers in the board should take into account the prevalent mood in the country.
“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,” Patel told The Indian Express.
3. BCCI will go with governments' call: Rajiv Shukla
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IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla also said that sporting ties cannot prosper in the present environment. “I’ve always said that sport is above politics but now it will hamper sporting ties too, not until Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is stopped."
However, Shukla did not call for boycott of the match, saying “I cannot say now whether we will play Pakistan in the World Cup as it’s too far but our policy and position is very clear. We will wait for the government’s decision.”
4. Cricket Club of India supports boycott
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The boycott call has also been taken up by the secretary of the prestigious Cricket Club of India. "CCI is a sporting association but nation comes first," said Suresh Bafna.
CCI had covered a portrait of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in a unique protest against the dastardly terror attack on CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.
5. What will be the cost of forfeiture
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According to World Cup rules, in case a team doesn’t play its scheduled match, the opposition team gets the points from the game. So if India chooses not to play against Pakistan, Pakistan will be awarded the points with the match counted in the 'loss' column for India. Each team will play nine games in this year's first round and top four will go to the semifinals. Apart from Pakistan, India play England, Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and West Indies.
