Board of Control for Cricket in India President Anurag Thakur on Friday said India will not resume bilateral cricket tournaments with Pakistan because of the militant attack on an Indian Army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 18. Thakur called Pakistan a “sponsor of terrorism” and said there was “no question of playing cricket with such a nation”.
Thakur had voiced a similar opinion when he was the board's secretary last year, saying matches between the two countries were not possible till relations between them had stabilised. However, Thakur later clarified his statement, calling them his personal views and adding that he would comply with whatever decision the board took.
Thakur’s remarks came three days after former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev rebuked a reporter for asking why Pakistan had not been invited for the third edition of the Kabaddi World Cup being hosted by India. Dev, at an event to announce India’s squad for the tournament, said, “If you are a Hindustani you should not ask the question at all. Is it the time to ask this question?”
The two neighbours have not played a bilateral series since 2012-’13, when Pakistan toured India to play three One Day International and two Twenty20 International matches. Relations between the two countries have worsened following the attack, with the Indian government attempting to diplomatically isolate Islamabad.
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