India Vs Pakistan T20 WC Match To Go As Scheduled Amid Reconsideration Demands Due To Targeted Killings In J&K

ICC T20 World Cup, IND Vs PAK: Rajeev Shukla confirms that the Indo-Pak fixture will be played as scheduled despite demands to cancel it after targeted killings in J&K.

Virat Kohli of India bats during the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 4, 2017. (File Photo/ Getty Images)

ICC T20 World Cup: India vs Pakistan cricket match that is set to be played on 24 October will go ahead as per schedule, said BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla. The BCCI VP gave this confirmation after there were demands to ban this fixture due to the targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir, from various BJP leaders. 

Shukla said that even though he condemns the killings in J&K, the BCCI cannot cancel the match with Pakistan as it is set to be played in an international event and the BCCI is bound to adhere to the rules set by ICC.

"We strongly condemn killings (J&K). Strict action should be taken against terror orgs. As far as the match (T20 WC IND vs PAK) is concerned, under ICC's int'l commitments, you can't refuse to play against anyone. You've to play in ICC tournaments," Shukla told ANI.

We strongly condemn killings(J&K). Strict action should be taken against terror orgs. As far as match (T20 WC IND vs PAK) is concerned, under ICC's int'l commitments you can't refuse to play against anyone. You've to play in ICC tournaments: Rajeev Shukla, BCCI VP&Congress leader pic.twitter.com/IPbhu9onGH

— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2021

Rajeev Shukla was responding to the demands made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) like Union Minister Griraj Singh and Bihar's deputy CM, Tarkishore Prasad. Giriraj Singh had said that the arrangement of the India vs Pakistan match "should be reconsidered". Tarkishore Prasad, on the other hand, said that the match 'should be halted'

I think such things (India vs Pak match in upcoming ICC T20 World Cup) should be halted...so that Pak get a message that if they keep supporting terrorism, India will not stand by them on any matter: Bihar's Dy CM Tarkishore Prasad on recent targeted civilian killings in J&K pic.twitter.com/ZZejMBFA1y

— ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2021

In the past week, two non-locals were shot dead by militants in Srinagar and Pulwama districts. Arvind Kumar Sah, a resident of Bihar’s Banka was shot at by the ultras outside a park at Eidgah in Srinagar. In another incident, militants fired at and critically injured Saghir Ahmad, a carpenter hailing from Uttar Pradesh, in Pulwama district.

Seven civilians, including four from minority communities, were earlier killed by the terrorists in Kashmir, triggering fear among the people in the valley.

These incidents triggered an angry reaction in the country against Pakistan and thus, the demands to cancel the match came up.