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Pakistan is not safe and secure for India to travel: Anurag Thakur
Follow UsIndia’s former Sports Minister also reckoned that ‘safety and security’ of the players are very important
Former Sports Minister of India Anurag Thakur has made it clear as daylight that Pakistan is not safe and secure for India to travel to. Thakur’s comments come amid intense debate over whether India should travel to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
Even BCCI said that the Men in Blue wouldn’t be travelling to Pakistan and instead sought out the ICC to host the tournament in a hybrid format, which PCB has since reportedly accepted. This arrangement allows both India and Pakistan to still play each other on a neutral ground.
"India has made it very clear that the safety and security of the players are very important, and we have been very consistent with our stand as far as playing in Pakistan is concerned,” Thakur said, reported TOI.
“Till the time they do not have control or check over the terrorist activities and cross-border activities, India is not willing to play there. The conditions in Pakistan are not very sports-friendly, not very safe and secure. The decision made by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is right,” he added.
Thakur also lauded India’s contribution to international cricket and insisted that the Indian Premier League (IPL) has sought out some of the best names to play in the league over the years.
"As far as international cricket is concerned, India's contribution at the international level is huge... India is in a position to host the best of the tournaments. We have done that in the past and we can do that in the future as well. Countries across the globe love to come and play in India, and the world's most popular cricket league is played in India, the Indian Premier League (IPL)."
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