MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief exective Rahul Johri, via a letter penned by Committee of Administrators chairperson Vinod Rai,
on Friday shot off a letter to the ICC calling on its member boards to “boycott countries encouraging terrorism”.
The high on optics and low on actionability letter comes in the wake of the terrorist attack in J&K’s Pulwama on February 14 that killed 44 CRPF personnel.
The mail to the ICC followed a meeting of the CoA in New Delhi.
The letter reads:
Dear Sirs,
This communication is being addressed to voice the BCCI’s concerns and sentiments that have emerged after the recent dastardly terrorist attack which was carried out on Indian soil by a terror outfit based out of Pakistan, which resulted in the death of 44 Indian security personnel. In view of the aforesaid terrorist attack, the BCCI fears for the safety and security of players and match officials participating in upcoming ICC events including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
Most countries from which the members of the ICC hail (including the United Kingdom) have strongly condemned this terrorist attack and expressed solidarity with India. BCCI urges the cricketing community to sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates.
The BCCI also wishes to express its concerns over the safety and security of fans of Indian cricket at the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The BCCI trusts that the ICC and ECB will ensure that the most robust security is provided to players, match officials and fans of Indian cricket for the upcoming World Cup.
The BCCI reserves all its rights and entitlements in this regard.
This communication is being issued for and on behalf of the BCCI by the Committee of Administrators for the BCCI, appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
Regards,
Rahul Johri
(CEO, BCCI)
