Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Anurag Thakur, has said that the Indian cricket team will not play any series with Pakistan till relations stabilise.
A report on Indian NDTV cited the allegations that Pakistan was “giving sheter” to Dawood Ibrahim and displeasure on Pakistan’s desired meetings with Kashmiri leaders, as reasons fr the secretary’s statement. The allegation that Pakistan is sheltering one of India’s most wanted fugitives in provincial capital Karachi is one that has been raised repeatedly.
Pakistan routinely denies said charges.
Dawood Ibrahim, who is the alleged mastermind behind the Mumbai serial bomb blasts of 1993 stands convicted in absentia in India.
Thakur, a Member of Parliament from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mocked Pakistan’s wish to play cricket with its Indian neighbor. The two rivals, who were scheduled to play a series in the UAE, may not get the chance to do so in light of Thakur’s statement. The two countries haven’t played a bilateral Test series since 2007.
Dawood in Karachi. NSA wants to meet separatists here. Are you really serious about peace and you expect we’ll play cricket with you?
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) August 22, 2015
