Anurag Thakur, Union Sports Minister, stated on Friday that India and Pakistan cricket matches would not resume unless the neighbouring nation stopped supporting terrorists. However, he was questioned by the Opposition on the approaching World Cup match between the bitter rivals.
Following the current encounter in which four security officers were murdered in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag area, Thakur made the following statement.
The Union minister mentioned, “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had decided long ago that we would not engage in bilateral matches with Pakistan until they put an end to terrorism, cross-border attacks, and infiltration. I believe the sentiments of our nation and its citizens align with this stance.”
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned about the status of the forthcoming World Cup match between India and Pakistan slated to take place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in response to Thakur’s statement. On October 14, the two bitter rivals will face off in a World Cup group stage encounter.
Invoking X, Chaturvedi enquired, “Will the World Cup Match between the two scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad be considered bilateral and be cancelled in respect of the sentiment of the nation? He should clarify that as a minister and so should BCCI.”
Colonel Manpreet Singh, the commanding officer of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles unit of the Indian Army, Major Ashish Dhonchak, and deputy superintendent of the Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat all perished as a result of wounds they sustained during a confrontation with terrorists in Gadole, in the Kokernag region of South Kashmir. A second soldier who had participated in the anti-terrorist operation later died.
Following the incident, some people have once again called for the termination of all connections with Pakistan, including participation in international sporting events, particularly cricket matches between the two countries.
India and Pakistan last played each other in a bilateral series in 2012–2013. Since then, only ICC competitions and the Asia Cup have seen matches between the two nations.
