Banning cricket with Pakistan is 'justified': Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

Following the Pulwama terrorist attacks, there has been a demand that India should not play Pakistan in the World Cup

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Wednesday said those demanding Pakistan's boycott in the upcoming cricket World Cup are “justified” to some extent given that things are not normal between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack.

Ever since 40 CRPF personnel were killed in what was the deadliest terror strike in three decades in Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a demand that India should not play Pakistan in the World Cup, which begins May 30 in England.

The two neighbours are drawn to clash on June 16 at Old Trafford and might square off again in the knockout stage.

“I cannot make any comment (on cricket issues) except to say those who are demanding it has some justification. You can see many films and concerts have been cancelled. Things are not normal,” Prasad said in an interview.

However, he refrained from outrightly calling for a boycott of the match and said it is up to the BCCI and the International Cricket Council to assess the situation and take a call accordingly.

“Since it's an international tournament, the ICC and our Indian cricket board (BCCI) have to take a call after consideration with our security establishment,” he said.

“But I don't wish away their concern. It's time to say no. Mr Imran Khan had no word of condolence for those who were killed,” he added.

The BCCI has maintained that it would follow the government guidelines on bilateral cricket with Pakistan. The ICC, on its part, said that it does not foresee the World Cup schedule getting affected by the current turmoil.

The prominent voices that have called for a suspension of cricket ties are senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and pacer Mohammed Shami.

Bilateral cricket between the two countries has not been held since 2012. But the two nations have clashed regularly at global meets, the most recent of such face-offs being the Asia Cup games in the UAE last year.