‘Tournaments keep coming…’: S Jaishankar on India-Pak cricket ties

The last time these two teams played a bilateral series was in 2012.

New Delhi:

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has given a strong message to cross-border terrorism by rejecting no cricket ties between India and Pakistan. The BCCI recently said that India will not travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup. All this led to a huge dispute between BCCI and PCB.

“Tournaments keep coming and you’re aware of the government’s position. Let’s see what happens. It’s a complicated thing. Will you talk to me if I put a gun to your head? If your neighbor is helping terrorism outside and there’s no mystery about who the leaders are, where the camps are. We don’t should ever think that cross-border terrorism is normal. Give me another example of one neighbor sponsoring terrorism against another. There is no such example. In a way, this is not even abnormal, but exceptional.” said EAM S Jaishankar at Agenda Aaj Tak.

Earlier this month, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja said that Pakistan may consider pulling out of Asia Cup 2023 if their hosting rights for the tournament are revoked due to the Indian team not traveling to their country.

Earlier in October, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah had completely dismissed speculations about Team India traveling to Pakistan for the event and said that the Asia Cup would be held at a neutral venue. The last time these two teams played a bilateral series was in 2012.

“You know our position in cricket. We should never accept that a country has the right to sponsor terrorism. Unless we delegitimize this, it will continue. So there should be pressure on Pakistan globally. There will be no pressure. unless the victims of terrorism come forward. India should sort of lead the way because our blood has been shed,” said EAM S Jaishankar.

Ramiz Raja had also threatened that if India opts out of the Asia Cup, Pakistan will also not travel to India to participate in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.

All these statements are a clear indication that the Government of India and the BCCI are on the same page. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that they would send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan to compete in the Asia Cup 2023 tournament.

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