Indo-Pak WC clash on course

New Delhi, February 19

Amid speculation surrounding the India-Pakistan World Cup clash following the Pulwama terror attack, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday said it does not foresee any change in the schedule of the mega event starting on May 30.

In the wake of the terror attack, veteran India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh wants the Indian team to call off their June 16 match against Pakistan in Manchester. However, when asked about the matter, ICC CEO David Richardson said there was no such indication as of now that the match will be cancelled. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this terrible incident and we will be monitoring the situation with our members,” Richardson said, offering his condolences on the ghastly terror attack, in which more than 40 CRPF personnel were martyred.

“There is no indication that any (of the) matches at the World Cup will not go ahead as planned,” said Richardson. “Sport, in particular cricket, has the wonderful ability to bring people together and unite communities and we will work with our members on that basis,” he added.

Long shot

Even the men who matter in the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said not playing Pakistan in the World Cup was a “long shot” as of now. “Harbhajan shared his point of view but he didn’t clarify what happens if we are pitted against them in a semifinal or the final. Does that mean we will forfeit the World Cup semifinal or final? So we are all talking about hypothetical situations,” a senior BCCI official said. “For the record, India played Pakistan in a World Cup game in England in 1999 edition, when the Kargil war was at its peak,” the official added. 

On Monday, Harbhajan told a news channel: “India should not play Pakistan in the World Cup. India are powerful enough to win the World Cup without having to play Pakistan.” Harbhajan also said that as a mark of respect for the martyred CRPF jawans, India should not revive any sporting ties with Pakistan.

“I don’t think India should play the World Cup match against Pakistan. Country comes first and we are all standing behind our country. Cricket or hockey, it should be kept aside because this is a huge thing and repeatedly our soldiers are killed,” the veteran off-spinner had said. — PTI

Now, HPCA pulls down Pak players’ photos 

• Dharamsala: The photographs of Pakistani cricketers continue to be pulled down from cricket stadiums in India. Taking a cue from the Punjab and Rajasthan cricket bodies, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) on Tuesday removed the photographs of the Pakistani players from the Dharamsala cricket stadium. Anurag Thakur, who had to resign as HPCA president after the Lodha panel recommendations were implemented, said the association took a collective decision to remove the photographs. “Even though Pakistan was the first international team to play in Dharamsala, in 2005, nothing is more important than the pride of the country and the armed forces. Safety and security of our people is our priority and this is just a small step in sending a message against the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism,” he said. Interestingly, HPCA had found itself in the eye of the storm when the families of the two local martyred soldiers in the Pathankot Air Force Station attack had opposed hosting Pakistan for a T20I match in Dharamsala. The match was eventually cancelled, but the HPCA authorities initially wanted the match to go ahead. — Lalit Mohan