MUMBAI: Even as speculative reportage around the options available to India vis-a-vis its scheduled World Cup face-off against arch enemy Pakistan on June 16 in Manchester is being given free rein across Indian news media, newswire PTI has provided a reality check.
The context of course is the Pulwama terror attack, which claimed the lives of 44 CRPF personnel, and had the imprint of the Pakistan deep state written all over it.
In the backdrop of the national outrage the despicable act generated, a report has appeared of the Committee of Administrators preparing a draft report seeking to use India’s financial clout in world cricket to get Pakistan banned from the International Cricket Council’s blue riband mega event.
According to the newswire, the CoA and the BCCI have NOT prepared any note seeking a ban on Pakistan at the upcoming World Cup, and even if such a move were to be made, the ICC is bound to reject it.
“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.
A top BCCI source said 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,” he added.
In these circumstances, India clearly has only ONE option available to it. Decide that the strongest possible message has to be sent out and NOT send a team for the World Cup at all.
That would be asking a whole lot of Virat Kohli and his men at a time when India is a strong favourite to lift its third ICC World Cup. Could that happen? SportzPower does not believe so but the repercussions of such a move, both financial and political, will be severe. And worth examining separately.
