Union Minister on India: According to Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, the Indian Cricket Board previously decided that a bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan will not take place until Pakistan puts an end to terrorism.
Thakur made his comments in response to the recent shooting deaths of three Indian security officials in Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir, after an encounter with terrorists operating out of Pakistan. Three persons lost their lives in the shootout: a Jammu and Kashmir Police Deputy Superintendent, an Army Major and an Army Colonel in charge of a Rashtriya Rifles Quick Response Team (QRT).
After the shooting in Anantnag, the Union Minister interacted with the media. He explained, “BCCI had already made the decision that we would not play bilateral matches with Pakistan until they put a halt to terrorism, cross-border attacks, and infiltration. I believe that the public and the country share the same thoughts.”
India and Pakistan haven’t played one another in a bilateral series since the 2012–2013 campaign. They only face off against one another in international competitions like the World Cup, Asia Cup, and Champions Trophy.
The fierce rivals recently squared off in Colombo during the Asia Cup’s Super 4 round. Kuldeep Yadav got 5/25 as India defeated Pakistan by 228 runs, including hundreds from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. The Indian Cricket Board refused to allow any of India’s games to be played there, hence a hybrid format had to be utilised when the Asia Cup was initially supposed to be hosted in Pakistan.
Union Minister on India:
Roger Binny, president of the International Cricket Board (ICB), and vice president Rajeev Shukla visited Pakistan at the invitation of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Earlier this month, they paid a visit to Pakistan and went to Lahore to see the Asia Cup 2023 matches. Shukla praised the PCB for their generosity but reiterated that it will be up to the Centre to decide whether or not cricketing ties between India and Pakistan should be resumed.
Rajiv Shukla said, “It was a two-day visit and an excellent visit. In our honour, the Governor arranged a supper. The members of the Pakistan Cricket Board provided excellent hospitality. They demanded that cricket between the two nations be restarted; we responded that the government would make that decision and that we would follow its instructions. There was no political objective; it was a cricket tour.”
So, this was all about the Union Minister on India not playing bilateral matches with Pakistan. Also read, ‘I miscalculated’ Cricketer Shubman Gill accepts his fault.
