The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla on Monday said India will have to play arch-rivals Pakistan in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 encounter on October 24 citing a commitment to ICC.

Recently due to the killings of non-local civilians in Jammu and Kashmir including panipuris sellers and one carpenter who have come from outside J&K to live life in the union territory, they have been targeted by JK ultras.

Due to this, many political outfits and relatives of slain people called for a boycott of India’s match against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Shukla said while strict action should be taken against terror organizations, the match against Pakistan has to be played as it is an ICC tournament.

T20 World Cup 2021: Virat Kohli confirms he will bat at No. 3 for India in the T20 World Cup

"We strongly condemn killings in (Jammu and Kashmir). Strict action should be taken against terror organizations. As far as the match (T20 WC IND vs PAK) is concerned, under ICC's international commitments you can't refuse to play against anyone. You've to play with teams in ICC tournaments," Rajeev Shukla who is also the Congress leader told ANI.

After the Pakistan match in Dubai on Oct 24, India will then face New Zealand and Afghanistan, plus the winners of Group B and runners-up from Group A.

(ANI inputs)