The Indo-Pak World Cup clash has been under the scanner ever since the Pulwama terror attack. Many people are of the belief that India should not play the game against Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup. Harbhajan Singh had also said that India should not play against Pakistan in the ICC megaevent, which was backed by the ex-BCCI secretary, Sanjay Patel as well.
But Indian team are set to play arch-rivals against Pakistan on June 16 match in Manchester. ICC’s outgoing chief executive officer, Dave Richardson has made it clear that all the games will go ahead as planned.
“Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this terrible incident and we will be monitoring the situation with our Members,” Richardson said, offering his condolences on the Pulwama terror attack in which, at least 42 CRPF jawans were martyred.
“There is no indication that any (of the) matches at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will not go ahead as planned,” Richardson said.
“Sport, in particular, cricket, has the wonderful ability to bring people together and unite communities and we will work with our Members on that basis,” he added.
Even a BCCI official had shared his view on the same. “Harbhajan had shared his point of view but he didn’t clarify what happens if we are again pitted against them in semi-final or suppose final. Does that mean that we will be forfeiting World Cup semi-final or final? So we are all talking about hypothetical situations,” said a senior BCCI official.
He further added, “For the record, India played Pakistan in a World Cup game in England in 1999 edition when Kargil War was at its peak.”