Rajeev Shukla, BCCI vice-president, emphasized that resuming cricket ties with Pakistan depends on Indian government approval. He praised Pakistan’s successful hosting of the Champions Trophy but remained skeptical about matches at neutral venues, reaffirming BCCI’s long-standing policy requiring bilateral matches to occur on national soil.
Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), recently addressed the future of cricketing relations between India and Pakistan. He emphasized that any resumption of bilateral series hinges entirely on clearance from the Indian government. Shukla, who attended the Champions Trophy semi-final in Lahore, acknowledged the commendable hosting efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during the event, which marked Pakistan’s first ICC tournament hosting in nearly three decades.
In his remarks to the Pakistani media, Shukla stated, “As far as you are asking about (cricket) between the two countries, it is very categorical and clear that it is the (Indian) government’s decision. Whatever the government of India says, we will go as per them.” He expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s successful organization of the tournament but remained skeptical regarding the possibility of India-Pakistan matches at neutral venues.
Shukla elaborated, stating, “It is true that fans from both the countries want the teams to play but the BCCI policy has been, and PCB would too have such a policy, that bilateral matches should be held on each other’s soil and not at a third (or) neutral venue.” He highlighted that the BCCI’s consistent policy aligns with ICC regulations requiring government consent for such matches, indicating the complexity of the decision-making process.
Moreover, he noted the competitive desire of other countries to host the India-Pakistan matches, remarking, “Every other country would offer to host India-Pakistan, who would not? We (BCCI) keep our point in front of the government but they decide after their deliberations.” Shukla concluded that governmental decisions are made after thoroughly considering multiple aspects, underscoring the nature of cricket relations between the two nations.
In conclusion, Rajeev Shukla articulated the firm stance of the Indian government regarding cricket matches with Pakistan, affirming that any resumption of ties would depend solely on governmental approval. He praised Pakistan’s successful hosting of the Champions Trophy but reiterated BCCI’s policy against neutral venue matches. Ultimately, the future of India-Pakistan cricket hinges on complex governmental decisions that take into account various factors.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
