The political tension between two neighbor countries India and Pakistan may affect the World Cup 2019. There are chances India might pull out from playing the men in green in the mega ICC event. But former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar thinks it isn't a good idea as they will lose 2 points.
There were reports that COA chief Vinod Rai had asked BCCI CEO Rahul Johri to write to ICC and ask them to kick Pakistan out of the tournament. There is an ICC meeting on February 27 and Johri will represent India. There are chances that the India-Pakistan issue will be addressed there.
Gavaskar said there is a possibility that if BCCI wants to boycott Pakistan, other countries would support as well. "They can try but it will not happen. It will not happen because the other member countries have to accept that. I can't see other member countries accepting that. India can go ahead and try to do that [stop Pakistan playing the World Cup]," Gavaskar told India Today.
"The right forum is at the United Nations. I am not too sure the International Cricket Conference is the right forum to bring this up. We are all down with the tragedy. I am not too sure it will work because the other countries might say it's an internal issue between two countries so please don't involve us," he said.
India is going to lose 2 points if they don't play Pakistan in the World Cup. "If India decide not to play Pakistan in the World Cup, who wins? Pakistan gets two points. We have beaten them every time in World Cups. We can play them and beat them and make sure they don't reach the semi-finals. Not playing bilateral series vs Pakistan hurts them.
"I know India is strong enough to qualify by not playing Pakistan. Not playing bilaterally hurts them. But it's a World Cup, it's two points...," Gavaskar said.
He added: "If they were no points given if there were zero points for not playing, I would say don't play them. My best response as a player would go and play them and beat them and deny those two points.
"Politics was never away from the sport. I am not talking about direct politics. I am with the country. Whatever the country decides, whatever the government decides, I am totally behind it. Not playing them will hurt us, because it's a World Cup. We lose two points, Pakistan will get those two points.
"Not playing bilateral series is hurting them. All those peripherals that help swell the kitty - the TV rights and other things have been cut off."
Former India cricketer Chetan Chauhan thinks Pakistan can be thrown out if BCCI puts pressure on ICC. "World Cup, Olympics have all decided years ahead. We don't play a bilateral series with Pakistan. The best thing to do is to throw Pakistan out of the World Cup. Every country is worried about the growth of terrorism in Pakistan. It's a problem for everyone. We should exert pressure on ICC to throw Pakistan out of the World Cup," Chauhan told Aaj Tak.
"If Pakistan does not play the World Cup, it won't make any difference. If India does not play, the ICC will suffer losses. India brings in 65 to 70 percent of the sponsorship," he added.
(With India Today Inputs)
