Reports | BCCI will be unable to stop ICC from allowing Pakistan play World Cup

The terrorist attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir claimed the lives of at least 40 CRPF personnel and is one of the worst tragedies on the armed forces in the last decade or so. The immediate consequence of that attack was the added pressure on the socio-political conditions between both the nations.

That tension escalated to the cricket fraternity as well as the heat between both national cricketing bodies has reached the doors of the International Cricket Council (ICC). However, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) and the BCCI have not prepared any note seeking a ban on Pakistan at the upcoming World Cup. 

“There is absolutely no constitutional or contractual way this could happen. the ICC constitution allows members the right to participate in ICC events as long as they’ve qualified,” a BCCI official told PTI.

Apart from cricket, Pakistani shooters also missed out on the ISSF World Cup in Delhi, starting on Saturday, after they were denied visas. There is also a growing demand for India to boycott its June 16 World Cup clash against Pakistan, an issue that is likely to come up on the sidelines of the ICC meetings between February 27 to March 2 in Dubai.

An inside source told Hindustan Times that even if a note is sent and the ICC agrees to put it out in front of member boards for a vote, India is unlikely to find any support from other nations.

“In case India writes to ICC for Pakistan’s removal, then we have to build consensus first to move a resolution at it’s Annual Board Meeting in April. We no longer enjoy majority in the ICC board right now. If this goes for floor Test we are certain to lose,” he said. “Not only that, serious doubts will emerge on our chances to host 2021 Champions Trophy and 2023 World Cup,” the inside source said.