India should not play against Pakistan in upcoming World Cup: CCI secretary to BCCI

In the wake of the terror attack on CRPF's convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on Thursday, the Cricket Club of India (CCI) secretary Suresh Bafna on Sunday said that India should not play against Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup. 40 soldiers were martyred and several others were left injured after a suicide bomber rammed an SUV filled with around 250 kg of explosives into a bus carrying the CRPF personnel. Coverage of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has also been suspended in India. IMG Reliance also decided to pull out of the broadcast deal in protest. The attack was termed as one of the deadliest in the history of Kashmir and was condemned by over 40 countries and world organisations. Calling for India vs Pakistan match to be boycotted at the World Cup, Bafna said that Pakistan Prime Minister and former cricketer Imran Khan's silence shows that his country is at fault. "We condemn the terror activities carried out against our army and CRPF personnel. Though CCI is a sporting association but nation comes first even before sports," Bafna told ANI. "He (Imran Khan) should respond. He is the Prime Minister and if he believes that Pakistan has no role to play in the attack then why is he not coming out openly. He should come out openly. People should know the truth. He is not coming out openly which means that there are Stains in their folds," he added. The World Cup will get underway from May 30 in England and Wales. India and Pakistan are scheduled to play on June 16 at Old Trafford. Boycotting the clash can have its own limitations and BCCI will be well aware of the fact, considering it is a World Cup and not just any ICC tournament. The arch-rivals have in the past few years have only met in ICC tournaments with BCCI standing firm on its decision to not conduct any bilateral series with Pakistan. India and Pakistan last met in the Asia Cup last year where Rohit Sharma-led Men in Blue defeated Sarfraz Ahmed & Co twice eventually going on to win the tournament. India will play two T20Is and a five-match ODI series against Australia starting from February 24 before heading to the World Cup. Source: Times Now