India should play and thrash Pakistan in World Cup, says Haryana sports minister

He never falls short of speaking his mind out. And this time, Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij chose to speak on the high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan at the ICC World Cup on June 16. The veteran BJP leader has spoken in favour of India playing the arch-rivals at the mega event and not forfeit the match as that could help Pakistan to qualify for the semi-finals. He wanted the Men in Blue to thrash the opponents completely.

Emotions ran high in India in the wake of a dastardly suicide terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14 in which over 40 CRPF personnel were martyred. A number of cricketers – both current and former – wanted India to boycott the game against Pakistan in Manchester in protest to terror activities on Indian soil that are often sponsored from across the border.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly and senior spinner Harbhajan Singh demanded India to boycott Pakistan though legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar felt letting the go the game would not be appropriate and India should rather play Pakistan and beat them.

Vij threw his weight behind the former Mumbaikars in an interview to Mail Today. “See, India should not play the bilateral series with Pakistan or any series between the two. But ICC World Cup is a multinational event and India should play, no matter what country they face. Why should we back out? India should play and thrash Pakistan completely in the major event,” the minister said.

He also added that the final move will be decided by the Government of India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

India have 6-0 record against Pakistan in World Cup

India have a clean record against Pakistan in World Cup, winning all six encounters they have had since the 1992 edition in Australia and New Zealand. Their last victory also came in Australia in the 2015 edition. While four of the victories came in group stages, two were in the knock-out phases (quarter-finals in 1996 and semi-finals in 2011).

Pressure was also put on the BCCI to ask the International Cricket Council to kick Pakistan out of the World Cup on grounds of sheltering terrorists though the world governing body did not agree with it.

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