BCCI asks ICC to help avoid India-Pak encounters in tournaments
- by Belinda Burton
- in Sport
- — Oct 2, 2016
Talking to SAMAA, he said this while criticizing Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Anurag Thakur's request to International Cricket Council (ICC) not to place the teams of Pakistan and India in a same group even in the multi-nation tournaments.
The decision was reportedly taken at a working committee meeting in Mumbai on Monday, ahead of the special general meeting where the board could not come to a decision with regard to implementing the recommendations of the Lodha panel, thereby missing the deadline of September 30 set by the committee for the implementation of its first set of reforms.
Despite not playing bilateral events, the arch-rivals have played each other a number of times in ICC events with the most recent coming at the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup.
BCCI is especially looking at the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan since the Uri terror attack and the subsequent LoC "surgical strikes" by the Indian Army to make this request.
Santner at heart of Black Caps fightback
Mitchell Santner was the wrecker in chief as he picked up three wickets and brought back New Zealand into the game. It was a rare odd day for Jadeja and R Ashwin, who went wicketless despite bowling 31 overs together.
However, he added in the case the two teams played in knockout matches, then naturally the match-up could not be avoided.
Pakistan and India are scheduled to meet in a mouth-watering ICC Champions Trophy clash in England next summer but the Indians have managed to cast a cloud of uncertainty over the match because of growing political tensions between the two nations. There's been no bi-lateral series between the cricketing giants since, save Pakistan's visit of India in 2012 for two T20Is and three One-Day Internationals. BCCI President Anurag Thakur, who is also a BJP MP has said that this step would be taken "in view of the public sentiment in the country".
After the Uri attack that saw 18 Indian soldiers being killed by the militants, Thakur was reported by the Indian media as saying that there is no question of playing Pakistan as India's policy is to expose their support of terrorists activities at the global level.
