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With the news that Pakistan may not travel to India for the World Twenty20 citing security reasons, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not really breaking heads on the issue. “It is their decision whether to come to India or not. This is an International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament and ICC will look into the matter…We haven’t been informed about anything as yet,” a top BCCI official told India.com.
The ICC World Twenty20 is commencing on March 8 and a month ahead of the tournament there are rumours flying thick and fast that the neighbouring government led Nawaz Sharif may not grant the team permission to travel to India. In that case, ICC will have a huge task of restructuring the fixtures and logistics and it won’t be that easy in such a short time. (Also Read: Pakistan’s World T20 participation was discussed in Dubai: PCB)
The official also revealed that if Pakistan skips the biennial showpiece, there will be huge repercussions and they may even get sanctions from the ICC. “The onus is on ICC to talk to them and finalise as early as possible. If at all Pakistan skips the World T20, there will obviously be huge repercussions, but that has nothing to do with the BCCI. We are just hosting the tournament and it is being conducted by world governing body,” the official who wished not be quoted as he is not authorised to speak to media, said..
The television rights are one of the issues that needs to solved and ICC will have tough time compensating for the losses arising out of Pakistan’s ‘no show’. “Yes that issue also will be taken up and the broadcaster’s earning will be affected,” the official chipped in.
With political tension mounting each passing day, the relations between India and Pakistan has hit rock bottom. “They may have political pressure to not come to India in the wake of recent incidents in Pathankot and 26/11 investigations,” he said.
It may be recalled that organisers in Mumbai had to call off Pakistani Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali’s concert following threats from right-wing political outfit Shiv Sena. The Sena has been opposing every Pakistani’s visit to Mumbai following the 26/11 terror attack that shook the entire world back in 2008. Shiv Sena is opposing any relations with the neighbour till it takes steps to check terrorist outfits using its soil against India. In the past also the party did not allow cricket match between the two countries.
The series of incidents involving terror has hit the relations despite India Prime Minister Narendra Modi making unprecedented visit to Lahore to wish his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday.
However, there is nothing BCCI can do at the moment rather than waiting for the decisions and make logistic changes if Pakistan is unavailable. “We will wait and watch at the moment,” the official quoted above added.
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