Expect India-Pakistan game at World Cup to go ahead as scheduled: ICC

Team Udayavani, Feb 20, 2019, 5:56 AM IST

New Delhi: Amid speculation surrounding India-Pakistan World Cup clash owing to the Pulwama terror attack, the International Cricket Council said it does not foresee any change in the schedule of the mega event starting May 30.

In the wake of the terror attack, former India player Harbhajan Singh wanted the Indian team to call off their June 16 match against Pakistan in Manchester.

However, when asked about the matter, Richardson made it clear that there is no such indication as of now that the match will be cancelled.

“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 ghastly terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel 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 the men who mattered in BCCI said that not playing Pakistan in the World Cup is a “long shot” as of now.

“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,” a senior BCCI official said.

“For the record, India played Pakistan in a World Cup game in England in 1999 edition when Kargil War was at its peak,” the official added. 

Many affiliated units have removed photos and portraits of Pakistani cricketers with one of the oldest units Cricket Club of India (CCI) leading the way by covering a portrait of Pakistan PM Imran Khan.

Punjab Cricket Associations (PCA) and Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) have also removed the pictures of Pakistani players.