No bilateral cricket unless Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism: India’s EAM Sushma Swaraj

The bilateral relation between India and Pakistan is not exactly going smooth. And it has taken its toll on cricket as well. India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has hinted that any bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan is unlikely unless the neighbour stops cross-border terrorism and firing. Sushma said this to Parliament’s consultative committee on external affairs during a meeting, which was also attended by Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar.

During the meeting, Sushma also said that she had met Pakistan’s envoy to India and proposed to him that both countries release the prisoners who are above 70 years of age or women or of unsound mind as part of humanitarian aspect of the relationship, a member who was present in the meeting said. The agenda of the meeting was ‘Relationship with the Neighbourhood’. She clarified that terrorism and cricket can’t go hand in hand, the member said.

Uncertainty over India hosting Asia Cup next year owing to political tension with Pakistan

The political turmoil has now put the 2018 Asia Cup in doubt, as a prior meeting by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) failed to decide on the fate of the tournament in India. The current ruling party has been maintaining a hard stand on neighbours Pakistan and is not inclined to give a go-ahead for the tournament.

According to earlier reports, it was speculated that India could lose hosting rights for next year’s Asia Cup if it refuses to host Pakistan. Contradictorily some reports claim that they could withdraw from hosting the tournament.

BCCI has already written to the home ministry seeking permission to host the event but hasn’t received any response yet. The timing of the tournament is also a bit tricky which makes things more complicated. It is slated to be held next September which is not far away from the next general election in the country.