As the pressure mounts for Team India to boycott their ICC 2019 World Cup match against rivals Pakistan in the wake of Pulwama terrorist attacks, head coach of Indian team Ravi Shastri has opined on the matter.

Shastri has said that the team will follow the instructions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the government in the matter.

“It’s entirely left to the BCCI and the government. They know exactly what is happening and they will take a call. We will go by what they decide. If the government says it’s that sensitive you do not need to play the World Cup, I will go by my government,” Shastri told Mirror Now.

Pulwama terror attack saw nearly 40 CRPF personnel were martyred when a suicide bomber from Pakistan based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed rammed the CRPF bus with an explosive-laden SUV on February 14. Since then, there have been growing demands that India should boycott its clash with Pakistan on June 16 at Old Trafford, Manchester.

The CoA deliberated on the matter but decided against taking any stand on the issue and said, “We are in talks with the government. No decision has been taken on the June 16 match. We are expressing two concerns to the ICC. We will ask for more protection for players during the World Cup and we will tell cricketing nations to sever ties with any nation that is a terrorist hub.”

There were reports that the CoA and the BCCI might approach the ICC seeking Pakistan’s ouster from the mega-event in England that starts on May 30.

(inputs from Mirror Now/ hindustantimes.com)