BCCI's letter to ICC: 'Sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates'

In the letter, the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri also wrote that the Board also "fears for the safety and security of players and match officials participating in upcoming ICC events".

The BCCI is yet to take a decision on India playing Pakistan at the upcoming World Cup.

In an unprecedented move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday called for a boycott of countries encouraging terrorism. The move comes in the wake of the terror attack in Pulwama on February 14.

In a letter to the International Cricket Council, the Board CEO Rahul Johri wrote, “The BCCI wishes to address concerns and sentiments that have emerged after the recent dastardly terrorist attack which was carried out on Indian soil by a terror outfit based out of Pakistan which resulted in the death of 44 Indian security personnel. In view of the aforesaid terrorist attack, BCCI fears for the safety and security of players and match officials participating in upcoming ICC events including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The BCCI trusts that the ICC and ECB will ensure that the most robust security is provided to players, match officials and fans of Indian cricket for the upcoming World Cup,” Mr. Johri wrote.

Read: COA to consult Govt on Indo-Pak World Cup clash

The letter also said: “Most countries from which the members of the ICC hail (including United Kingdom) have strongly condemned this terrorist attack and expressed solidarity with India. BCCI urges the cricketing community to sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates."

The mail to ICC followed a meeting of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) here. CoA chairman Vinod Rai said, “We are telling the cricketing community that in future we must sever ties with nations from which such terror emanates.” Apart from Mr. Rai, the meeting was attended by the other two CoA members – Diana Edulji and Lt. Gen. Ravi Thodge.

The meeting also decided to scrap the opening ceremony at this year's Indian Premier League. “We will not have a regular IPL opening ceremony and the amount (the budget) from that opening ceremony will be given to the families of those who have been victims of this terror attacks,” Mr. Rai informed.

On the possibility of India not playing its league match against Pakistan at the World Cup, Mr. Rai added, “(June 16) is very far away. We will take a call on that much later in consultation with the government.” Even though the CoA left the decision to the government, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told a news channel that the “final call would have to be made by the BCCI."