Why should we shoot ourselves in the foot by not playing Pakistan in World Cup, asks CoA Chairman Vinod Rai
What's the story?
BCCI's Committee of Administrators (CoA) Chairman, Vinod Rai, asserted that the state of India ought to seek Pakistan's ouster and dislodge them from the cricket committee, keeping in mind the World Cup fixture between the two rival nations that is to be played on June 16.
According to him, India would shoot itself on the foot, should it not choose to play against Pakistan. (Given Pakistan are allowed to feature)
Otherwise, Rai wants the country to suffer from 'cricket apartheid', much like how South Africa were forced to undergo it.
In case you didn't know...
The entire country of India has been baffled, shook and troubled in the wake of the infamous Pulwama bombing that costed the lives of over 40 CRPF soldiers. The entire country, with the aim of standing up against the incident, has decided to do anything in order to cut all ties with Pakistan, the country that disseminates terrorism.
It went to such an extent that BCCI CEO Rahul Johri wrote to the ICC, urging cricketing nations to 'sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates.'
Meanwhile, due to the major racial discriminatory issues that enveloped South Africa back in the mid-20th century, the country was kept out by the International Olympic Council prior to the 1964 games. In the 1970s, the cricket world too boycotted the nation.
The heart of the matter
Vinod Rai, who has joined hands with the BCCI members, has taken a different route to explain the situation albeit.
Speaking to the Indian Express about the forthcoming India-Pakistan encounter, he said:
“Why should we shoot ourselves in the foot by not playing? We should seek their (Pakistan) ouster and remove them from the cricketing committee.”
“I look at it (the letter sent to the ICC) from the point of view that we are able to isolate Pakistan. Make it a cricket apartheid for Pakistan on the terror issue. The idea is to work hand in hand with the Indian government to isolate Pakistan in the cricketing community."
Speaking of BCCI's fast-paced approach, he remarked:
“The present dispensation feels strongly about it because we reflect the sentiment of the nation. We are not a closed cricket community, we represent the nation.”
What's next?
Going by the ICC constitution, it seems like an uphill task to completely dismantle Pakistan and remove them from the committee, but the Indian government and the BCCI just don't look like slowing down.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and co. take on the Aussies on 24 February for the first of two T20Is at Vizag.