Yousuf urges ICC to take action against BCCI’s anti-Pakistan statement

Former captain says India has been avoiding playing against Pakistan for the last eight years

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf said on Saturday that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should take notice of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Anurag Thakur’s ‘political’ statement.

"The ICC keeps on saying it will not tolerate politics or government interference in member boards and the BCCI president is making political statements. Either he should speak as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader or as a BCCI head," said Yousuf as quoted by Press Trust of India.

Yousuf’s reaction came after Thakur, on Friday, said that India is not ready to play against Pakistan who allegedly sponsor terrorism.

“No question of playing cricket. Today, priority is to expose Pakistan as a country which sponsors terrorism. We can’t even think of such thing (playing cricket with Pakistan),” said Thakur.

Former right-hand batsman, who holds the Test record for most runs in a calendar year, also said that India, for some reason, avoided playing Pakistan even when the two countries had good relations.

‘No relationship with Pakistan until terrorism ends’

"I just don't understand what he [Thakur] wants to say,” said Yousuf. “For the last eight years, India has avoided playing us in a proper bilateral series even when relations were better.”

The 42-year-old further said that people of both countries enjoyed the matches between Pakistan and India however, now, there is no series.

India’s intentions clear: Rashid Latif

Another former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif believes Indian board had earlier made their intentions clear of not playing against Pakistan thus rendering Thakur’s statement weightless.

"The last time we went to India in 2012 as a goodwill gesture for a short series of ODI and T20I matches. But since 2007, the Indian board has avoided playing us at a bilateral level in a full series," he said.

Latif said at least the PCB knew now where it stood as far as relations with BCCI were concerned.