The escalating political conflicts between India and Pakistan have been there for a long time now. Unfortunately, the tensions have also been carried into sports. India and Pakistan have not been playing against each other in bilateral ODI, Test or T20I series.
Both the heavyweights are locking horns with each other only in the ICC events. The last time when these two teams met each other was in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final. Pakistan got the better of India in the final to lift the title under Sarfaraz Ahmed’s astute leadership.
Now, these two teams will lock horns with each other on October 24 at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. Meanwhile, in the latest development, the BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Monday came up with a new statement. He said Team India will have to play arch-rivals Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.
No team can refuse to play another team in a tournament organized by ICC: Rajeev Shukla
In fact, no team can say ‘no’ to play another team in a tournament conducted by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Meanwhile, there were talks that India’s governing body and the government should think again about playing Pakistan in the ICC men’s T20 World Cup.
It is because, in the past few days, Jammu and Kashmir saw a series of targeted killings of civilians especially non-locals. Shukla also echoed that stringent action should be taken against terror organisations. However, at the same time, the match against Pakistan has to be conducted as it is an ICC tournament.
“We strongly condemn killings in (Jammu and Kashmir). Strict action should be taken against terror organisations. As far as the T20 WC IND vs PAK is concerned, under ICC’s international commitments you can’t refuse to play against anyone. You’ve to play with teams in ICC tournaments,” Rajeev Shukla who is also the Congress leader told ANI.
