Mumbai: Cricket, like any sport, evokes emotions. The more controversial an approach becomes, the more it is talked about. And the more it is talked about, the more it tends to border on controversial.
Fresh debate on the idea of BCCI Kashmir Premier League (KPL) is one such, except it’s not just cricket. It is cricket and beyond, which is partly needed BCCI To take a stand but largely remains a matter of state sovereignty.
Therein, the cricket board takes a stand on the said league – the one that will be played under Pakistan’s occupation Kashmir (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) and making it plainly clear that it will not engage with stakeholders who choose to participate that, in principle, is a by-product of how it intends to address an issue with potentially large implications. . And to end things, the Board says, “Now that our stand is clear and clear, the matter should be put to rest. It is not up for debate”.
“BCCI has taken a stand which is in line with not only the present governments but also the governments of the past. When it comes to the subject of PoK, the stand of BCCI is clear because the stand of the Government of India is clear. So, where’s the debate?” Those overseeing the affairs of the board have a say.
And, if the BCCI has chosen to tell other stakeholders in the game where it stands, there is a great deal of unanimity among its members and office-bearers that it is the right thing to do.
“And as I said, opinions are a dime a dime. A Herschelle Gibbs can have a mind of its own. So, he should have had one, but not BCCI, right?” Those tracking these developments say.
Gibbs recently tweeted: ‘Totally unnecessary of the @BCCI to bring your political agenda into the equation with Pakistan and trying to stop me from playing in @kpl_20. Also threatened me and said that they will not allow me to enter India for any cricket related work. Stupid.’
Soon after, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi retweeted Gibbs with the following: ‘Really disappointing that BCCI is once again mixing cricket and politics! KPL is a league for cricket fans from Kashmir, Pakistan and around the world. We will put on a great show and will not be deterred by such behavior!!’
As “ridiculous” as it sounds for Afridi and “disappointing” as Gibbs says, the BCCI is clear that it is not giving anyone an option here. “On the contrary, the Indian Board is making it abundantly clear that it has a stand on this issue which will not change. Where is the debate? If he still wants to proceed, he is free to do so?” say officials in India.
However, TOI understands that with the BCCI fully articulating its stand, the cricket boards (read: full members of the International Cricket Council, excluding the Pakistan Cricket Board) have agreed with the BCCI’s view. While the PCB criticized the BCCI in this regard and said that it will take up the matter with the ICC, the ICC has said that it will not interfere in the matter.
NS Indian cricket Meanwhile, the Board finds it extremely ignorant on the part of those who are ‘fostering this controversy’. He said, ‘BCCI has a stand on this matter. Its as simple as that. No sports federation anywhere in the world will take the opposite view of its government and country. Give me an example and I’ll take it. BCCI is not asking the cricket board to refrain from participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), is it? Officials add.
There is speculation that the England Cricket Board has agreed to exclude its players from the Kashmir League as there is a possibility that the BCCI may allow players of a particular age group to participate in The Hundred .
However, the board officials laughed at it. “Let me make it very clear – this subject does not come with an option to barter,” says an Indian board official.
Fresh debate on the idea of BCCI Kashmir Premier League (KPL) is one such, except it’s not just cricket. It is cricket and beyond, which is partly needed BCCI To take a stand but largely remains a matter of state sovereignty.
Therein, the cricket board takes a stand on the said league – the one that will be played under Pakistan’s occupation Kashmir (Pakistan occupied Kashmir) and making it plainly clear that it will not engage with stakeholders who choose to participate that, in principle, is a by-product of how it intends to address an issue with potentially large implications. . And to end things, the Board says, “Now that our stand is clear and clear, the matter should be put to rest. It is not up for debate”.
“BCCI has taken a stand which is in line with not only the present governments but also the governments of the past. When it comes to the subject of PoK, the stand of BCCI is clear because the stand of the Government of India is clear. So, where’s the debate?” Those overseeing the affairs of the board have a say.
And, if the BCCI has chosen to tell other stakeholders in the game where it stands, there is a great deal of unanimity among its members and office-bearers that it is the right thing to do.
“And as I said, opinions are a dime a dime. A Herschelle Gibbs can have a mind of its own. So, he should have had one, but not BCCI, right?” Those tracking these developments say.
Gibbs recently tweeted: ‘Totally unnecessary of the @BCCI to bring your political agenda into the equation with Pakistan and trying to stop me from playing in @kpl_20. Also threatened me and said that they will not allow me to enter India for any cricket related work. Stupid.’
Soon after, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi retweeted Gibbs with the following: ‘Really disappointing that BCCI is once again mixing cricket and politics! KPL is a league for cricket fans from Kashmir, Pakistan and around the world. We will put on a great show and will not be deterred by such behavior!!’
As “ridiculous” as it sounds for Afridi and “disappointing” as Gibbs says, the BCCI is clear that it is not giving anyone an option here. “On the contrary, the Indian Board is making it abundantly clear that it has a stand on this issue which will not change. Where is the debate? If he still wants to proceed, he is free to do so?” say officials in India.
However, TOI understands that with the BCCI fully articulating its stand, the cricket boards (read: full members of the International Cricket Council, excluding the Pakistan Cricket Board) have agreed with the BCCI’s view. While the PCB criticized the BCCI in this regard and said that it will take up the matter with the ICC, the ICC has said that it will not interfere in the matter.
NS Indian cricket Meanwhile, the Board finds it extremely ignorant on the part of those who are ‘fostering this controversy’. He said, ‘BCCI has a stand on this matter. Its as simple as that. No sports federation anywhere in the world will take the opposite view of its government and country. Give me an example and I’ll take it. BCCI is not asking the cricket board to refrain from participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), is it? Officials add.
There is speculation that the England Cricket Board has agreed to exclude its players from the Kashmir League as there is a possibility that the BCCI may allow players of a particular age group to participate in The Hundred .
However, the board officials laughed at it. “Let me make it very clear – this subject does not come with an option to barter,” says an Indian board official.
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