VVS Laxman gives a thumbs up to government’s stand

Relations between India and Pakistan have been murkier since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. In the recent times, it has stooped to a new low, thanks to the blatant acts of terrorism along the Line of Control. The game has also not been immune to this situation which had led to calling off cricketing ties between the two nations. The government of India has made it clear that cricket and terrorism cannot go hand in hand.

Cricketers from both the nations have been of the opinions in the past that cricket should be kept away from politics, but former Indian legend VVS Laxman has come out in support of the stern stand the government has taken. One of the most respected cricketers to have graced the game, Laxman said that he had always relished playing against the arch-rivals Pakistan. But the present situation is grim enough to entertain any sporting event between the two countries now.

The stylish cricketer is of the opinion that cricket cannot act as a soothing balm to the terror as some things are beyond the ambit of sports. “I have always enjoyed playing against Pakistan. But it is very important to respect whatever decision the government takes because it is beyond sports at the moment,” he said.

Vijay Goel dismissed bilateral ties

Coming to the government’s stand, sports minister Vijay Goel has dismissed any bilateral tournaments between India and Pakistan as the government has to live up to the sentiments of the Indian people. And so he has made it clear to the press that BCCI will act solely on the directions of the government while arranging bilateral series between the bitter rivals. Until and unless terrorism from the Pakistani side abates, sports relations will always take a backseat.

“BCCI should come out with a proposal on Pakistan only after consultation with the government. I have already made it clear that any bilateral series with Pakistan is almost impossible because there cannot be sports relations between the two countries until there is terrorism from the Pakistani side,” Goel had said in New Delhi.

Noose tightens on BCCI

The government stand has left BCCI in a tight spot as it has failed to honour the memorandum of 2014 which stated that India should play six bilateral series between 2015-2023. The PCB which is in doldrums for losing a major chunk of revenue has asked the BCCI to pay a hefty compensation to the tune of USD 60 million to cough up the losses.

The ICC Future Tours Programme has stated that an India-Pakistan bilateral series is in the offing this year. But in the lieu of the hostilities at the border, that looks bleak.