BCCI warns PCB: No peace, no cricket
Statement comes after militants attacked police station in Indian Punjab on Monday
BCCI secretary said India not to play with Pakistan until peace is established. PHOTO: AFP
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur on Monday said the country is not ready to revive cricketing ties with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) if the security of Indians is compromised, The Times of India (TOI) reported.
Anurag’s statement comes after gunmen stormed a police station in Indian Punjab near Pakistan's border, killing six people and injuring several others.
"Even today there is a terrorist attack, in Gurdaspur. On one hand there is a rise in terrorist activity from Pakistan, on the other you can't expect to play a cricket series with Pakistan," told Takhur to ESPNcricinfo.
"Pakistan need to know that cricket can't be played if the security and peace of our nation is affected. I understand a sport is a different thing, but our internal security is important," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur told TOI.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both the nations, India is supposed to play an away series against Pakistan in the UAE but the incident has provoked negativity again and the chances of the tour seem negligible.
PCB has time and again offered to keep politics and cricket aside but BCCI has always left matters to be handled by the government.
"We have certain issues between the boards and our country also has issues," Thakur said.
"We need to sort them out before playing cricket against Pakistan. I met the PCB representatives during the ICC meetings in Barbados. The board is not against having dialogue, but the security of the country is paramount."
Pakistan last took on India in Tests back in 2007 when the men in green toured their neighbours for a three-match series.
Anurag’s statement comes after gunmen stormed a police station in Indian Punjab near Pakistan's border, killing six people and injuring several others.
"Even today there is a terrorist attack, in Gurdaspur. On one hand there is a rise in terrorist activity from Pakistan, on the other you can't expect to play a cricket series with Pakistan," told Takhur to ESPNcricinfo.
"Pakistan need to know that cricket can't be played if the security and peace of our nation is affected. I understand a sport is a different thing, but our internal security is important," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur told TOI.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both the nations, India is supposed to play an away series against Pakistan in the UAE but the incident has provoked negativity again and the chances of the tour seem negligible.
PCB has time and again offered to keep politics and cricket aside but BCCI has always left matters to be handled by the government.
"We have certain issues between the boards and our country also has issues," Thakur said.
"We need to sort them out before playing cricket against Pakistan. I met the PCB representatives during the ICC meetings in Barbados. The board is not against having dialogue, but the security of the country is paramount."
Pakistan last took on India in Tests back in 2007 when the men in green toured their neighbours for a three-match series.