NEW DELHI: India’s cricket team were “shocked” by the recent suicide bomber attack in Kashmir and will follow the nation’s lead on whether to boycott a World Cup match against Pakistan in June, captain Virat Kohli has said.
An attack claimed by Pakistan-based militants killed dozens of Indian paramilitary troops in the disputed Himalayan region on Feb 14.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has written to the game’s global governing body to urge the cricket community to sever ties with any nation from where “terrorism emanates.”
Angry fans, meanwhile, have demanded a boycott of the June 16 group match against Pakistan at the World Cup in England and Wales.
The BCCI said it would make a call on a boycott after consultation with the government, and Kohli said his team would respect their decision.
“The Indian team and the whole set-up was shocked with what happened and are really sad with what happened,” he told a media conference ahead of a Twenty20 match against Australia in Visakhapatnam.
“Our stand is simple: we stick by what the nation wants to do and what the BCCI decides to do.
“That is basically our opinion. Whatever the government and the board decide, we will go by that and we will respect that.”
India and Pakistan have not hosted a cricket series between the countries since 2013 due to political tensions.
Former India players are polarized on whether the team should boycott the World Cup match, which is scheduled to take place in Manchester.
Batting great Sachin Tendulkar said he wanted India to stretch their unbeaten World Cup record against Pakistan rather than forfeit the match but added that he would back whatever “the country decides.”
The International Olympic Committee on Friday suspended all Indian applications to host future events and urged international sports federations not to stage competitions in the country after two Pakistani athletes were denied visas to compete in New Delhi.
India team will follow nation’s lead on Pakistan World Cup boycott: Virat Kohli
India team will follow nation’s lead on Pakistan World Cup boycott: Virat Kohli
- An attack claimed by Pakistan-based militants killed dozens of Indian paramilitary troops in Kashmir
- Angry fans, meanwhile, have demanded a boycott of the June 16 group World Cup match against Pakistan
Comoros chances at Cup of Nations hit by FIFA decision
- Comoros take on highly fancied hosts Morocco in the tournament’s opening game on Dec. 21
- Comoros have been among the worst affected, according to Cusin
DUBAI: Comoros have had their chances of making an impact in the opening game of the African Cup of Nations severely impacted by FIFA’s surprise decision to delay the release of their players, said coach Stefano Cusin.
Comoros, who are the smallest nation competing, take on highly fancied hosts Morocco in the tournament’s opening game in Rabat on December 21.
However, their expansive preparation plans have had to be canceled after FIFA changed the date that clubs have to release players to the national teams competing at the finals.
Last week, world football’s governing body announced that clubs need only release players on Dec. 15, seven days shy of the regulated 14-day period prior to a continental championship kickoff.
It has thrown plans for pre-tournament camps and friendlies into disarray for many of the 24 competing nations.
Comoros, competing at the finals for a second time and hoping to replicate the giant-killing havoc they caused in the 2021 edition in Cameroon, have been among the worst affected, according to Cusin.
“We planned a training camp in Tunisia with a friendly game against Botswana this coming weekend,” he told Reuters.
“Everything was ready, but now we have had to change everything. It affects us more than other teams because we’re going to play in the opening game.”
Comoros draw all their players from clubs across Europe and the Middle East.
“Releasing players on December 15 means we’ll only get in four or five training sessions before our first game,” Cusin added.
“We are angry about that; it was not correct to tell us just one week before. If we’d known from the beginning, then we could have made a different plan.”
The dates for the upcoming Cup of Nations from December 21-January 18 were set to avoid any conflict with the Champions League and other European club competitions.
