Published: Feb 21, 2019, 09:24 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 21, 2019, 09:24 AM (IST)
The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly drafted a letter asking International Cricket Council (ICC) to ban Pakistan from the upcoming World Cup 2019 in England in the wake of terrorist attack in Pulwama.
As per the letter, if ICC decides against BCCI’s demand, India might consider withdrawing from the tournament itself.
According to The Times of India, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai has given his approval to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri to shoot the letter to cricket’s global governing body. However, a final call on whether the board will actually send the letter will be taken on Thursday.
“In the light of the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir, the Board is of the view that the ICC should ban Pakistan from participating,” TOI quoted a BCCI source as saying.
However, the report further quotes various sources as saying that the letter is nothing but a political gimmick with no practical implications. BCCI can only decide upon its participation in the event but cannot ask ICC to ban any other participating nation.
“Either way, BCCI can’t take a stand on this. Nations have suffered disputes but that hasn’t led to nonparticipation in global events like FIFA and Olympics. This is merely a political gimmick,” a source said.
BCCI has also been cautioned to ‘not make a fool of themselves’.
“BCCI can’t do anything like that. Asking a governing body to ban a country from participating in a global event is easier said than done. It’s a multi-nation tournament, not run at one member board’s personal discretion. They should try not to make a fool of themselves here,” sources said.
The Indian cricket board will have to reach a general consensus with other cricket boards of other nations through voting, something which hasn’t been thought of yet. On their part, the ICC is yet to receive any official or formal communication on this front from the BCCI.
“How the ICC works is simple. It will be put to vote. It’s not India’s discretion that’ll work here – that is if things go to that extent in the first place. There has to be a general consensus on the matter and BCCI still hasn’t worked out if there is any,” sources add.
“BCCI is being foolish here if it actually sends this letter. It can take a call on its own participation. Not that of another country. Either way, there will be heavy legal consequences involved.”
India are scheduled to face Pakistan on June 16 in Manchester with ICC claiming it received 4000,000 ticket applications from the match.
