Rahul Johri writes to ICC seeking security for players, officials and fans at World Cup

As the call has grown stronger in India calling for boycotting the match against Pakistan in World Cup 2019 at Old Trafford to protest the Pulwama tragedy, the BCCI has found itself with a difficult task of convincing the cricketing fraternity to isolate the arch-rivals. The Indian board is faced with the pressure to ask the ICC to throw Pakistan out of the WC though there is little chance of that happening.

The BCCI and the Committee of Administrators (CoA) that runs it met over a long discussion on Friday on the question of boycotting the clash with Pakistan though there was no definite outcome from it. The board will look to the decision that the government takes on the matter. The Men in Blue will take on their Green counterparts on June 16 in their seventh encounter in a WC since 1992. India have won all the six matches so far.

Meanwhile, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri has written to the ICC seeking security for the Indian players, officials and fans. He also urged the cricketing community on behalf of the BCCI to sever ties with countries from where terror emanates.

Letter content

“The 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,” the letter read according to India TV.

“In view of the aforesaid terrorist attack, BCCI fears for the safety and security of players and match officials participating in upcoming ICC events including ICC Cricket World Cup.” The letter also sought security for the Indian fans.

A young suicide bomber rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into a bus carrying the CRPF personnel on Jammu-Srinagar highway in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on February 14. A massive outrage followed across India and New Delhi withdrew the ‘Most Favoured Nation’ status it had granted to Pakistan in the mid-1990s.

The BCCI officials are concerned that taking a strong stand on Pakistan now could see things going against India when the time comes for them to host the Champions Trophy on 2021 and ICC World Cup in 2023.

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