Earlier this week, BCCI’s refusal to take part in Asia Emerging Nations Cup scheduled in Pakistan this April, put a question mark on the tournament’s organisation in the country. The Indian board decision to not send any team to Pakistan to participate in the tournament has led to a possibility of the change of host nation. Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore did not give a direct reply on the matter.
“Yeh to Samay hi bataega (only time will tell). As far as politics in sports federations is concerned, it should be kept away but finally sports is one of the soft power projections in the country and players are representative of a country,” he said when asked about being a sportsperson himself, doesn’t he think that sports should be kept away from politics.
The last time India and Pakistan clashed, was the finals of Champions Trophy in 2017 where astonishingly, Sarfaraz Ahmed led troops marched over Virat Kohli and Co to lift the trophy. While fans have always enjoyed these riveting encounters, India and Pakistan meets are only limited to ICC tournaments. India has denied playing Pakistan in any bilateral series after terrorists from the neighbouring state rocked Mumbai in 2008 in one of the worst terrorist attacks in India.
