The Indian Cricket Board agreed previously that a bilateral cricket series involving India and Pakistan would not take place until Pakistan puts a stop to terrorism, according to Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
Thakur made his remarks following the recent shooting deaths of three Indian security officers during an encounter with terrorists operating out of Pakistan in Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir. In the shootout, three people died: an Army Colonel in charge of a Rashtriya Rifles Quick Response Team (QRT), an Army Major, and a Jammu and Kashmir Police Deputy Superintendent.
The Union Minister spoke to the reporters after the shooting in Anantnag. He said, “BCCI had decided much earlier that we would not play bilateral matches with Pakistan until they put an end to terrorism, cross-border attacks and infiltration. I think the sentiments of the country and of the public are also the same.”
Since the 2012–2013 season, India and Pakistan haven’t faced one another in a bilateral series. Only international competitions such the World Cup, Asia Cup, and Champions Trophy pit them against one another.
Recently, the bitter rivals faced off at the Asia Cup’s Super 4 round in Colombo. Virat Kohli as well as KL Rahul both scored hundreds as India crushed Pakistan by 228 runs, as Kuldeep Yadav took 5/25.
The Asia Cup was originally slated to be held in Pakistan, but a hybrid format had to be employed instead when the Indian Cricket Board refused to play any of India’s games there.
It was a cricket visit and there was no political agenda: Rajeev Shukla
Following an invitation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), ICB president Roger Binny as well as vice president Rajeev Shukla travelled to Pakistan. They made the visit to Pakistan earlier this month and also attended the Asia Cup 2023 matches in Lahore.
While praising the PCB for its hospitality, Shukla insisted that the Centre will be in charge of making the choice to resume cricketing relations between India and Pakistan.
Rajiv Shukla said, “It was a two-day visit and a good visit. The Governor hosted a dinner in our honour. The hospitality of the people of the Pakistan Cricket Board was also good. Their demand was that cricket between the two countries should be resumed, we said it would be decided by govt and we would do whatever our govt would say. It was a cricket visit and there was no political agenda.”
