Our Bureau
New Delhi
After the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor, India and Pakistan ties have been at their lowest. That is why the announcement of India and Pakistan playing each other in the Asia Cup that is to be held next month in September has faced a huge backlash from many Indians.
Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT) has made her opinions clear and blasted the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) and the Government of India for going forward with this match. The Shiv Sena MP slammed the central government for allowing India to face Pakistan after Operation Sindoor. She even stated that the money BCCI will be earning will be cursed and soaked in blood lost by Indians.
“When money is more important than the blood of our fellow Indians and our men in uniform. Shame on GoI (Government of India) for being a hypocrite on Operation Sindoor. And dear BCCI- this is not just blood money that you’ll seek to earn but also cursed money,” she said.
Priyanka in her post has stated that every sponsor and broadcaster who is promoting and streaming this match should show some remorse. She has asked the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and IT to ban any live coverage and sponsorship of this match.
“Name and Shame every sponsor, broadcaster, streaming app that attempts to make money out of this India Pak match, because clearly BCCI and GoI are shamelessly going ahead with this match, leaving us Indian citizens to make our voices loud and clear. I ask the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Electronics and IT to ban all the streaming apps and broadcast channels that show the India/Pak match live. Or will they buckle too?”
On the other hand, as per a source from the sports ministry, it is not under Government’s powers to stop BCCI from sending the national team to participate in the tournament where Pakistan is also a participant. The source has stated, “As of now, the BCCI does not come under the purview of the sports ministry as the National Sports Governance Bill is still to be passed. So, the ministry doesn’t have a say, but we will wait and see how the BCCI responds to public sentiment.”
According to the reports, the ministry has stated clearly that any bilateral matches with Pakistan are “out of question”, but for any multinational they would have to go by the Olympic Charter which prohibits discrimination based on political issues and following it is essential for India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics.
The Asian Cricket Council has announced that the Asia Cup that will be played from September 9-28 in the UAE will witness India and Pakistan budding heads on 14th September. The ACC has called it the “blockbuster fixture” of the series. With the format of the tournament, it is highly possible that the two sides may potentially face off in the Super Four round and the finals too if they qualify further.
