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Fawad hopes ICC to take action against India for politicising cricket

Fawad hopes ICC to take action against India for politicising cricket
March 9, 2019 Web Desk

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lodge a formal protest against Indian cricket team for politicising Gentleman’s game. Fawad Chaudhry expressed immense displeasure over Indian cricket team’s wearing military cap during an ODI match against Australia. Fawad also  shared a picture of Indian players in a tweet and warned that if Indian cricket team would not be stopped, then Pakistan cricket team should wear black bands to remind the world about Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir. He took the twitter and said, “It’s just not Cricket”, I hope ICC ll take action for politicising Gentleman’s game ... if Indian Cricket team ll not be stopped.” “Pak Cricket team should wear black bands to remind The World about Indian atrocities in Kashmir... I urge #PCB to lodge formal protest,” he tweeted.

Amid the recent tensions between Pakistan and India, the Indian cricketers have been actively seen politicizing the game. Bringing the army into the sport, especially in the wake of recent tensions, is clearly political. However, the Pakistani side is trying to diffuse the tensions. Such an act is feared to add fuel to the fire as tension between rival nuclear-armed neighbouring countries is already high. Apart from that, it does not suit a sportsman to politicise a game.

One of the rules, under the sub-section ‘Personal Messages’, states:

Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages through arm bands or items affixed to clothing or equipment (“Personal Messages”) unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s Board and ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to religious, political or racial activities or causes. The code of conduct further reads, “The ICC shall have the final say in determining whether any such message is approved. For the avoidance of doubt, where a message is approved by the player or team official’s Board but subsequently disapproved by the ICC Cricket Operations Department, the player or team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey such message in International matches.”

ICC takes notice or not?

It remains to be seen whether the ICC takes notice of the matter or not. If it doesn’t, it would clearly reflect BCCI’s influence in ICC. There are also a number of Indians occupying top positions in international cricket’s governing body. Earlier, the ICC banned English cricketer, Moeen Ali from wearing “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” wristbands during international matches. Another such incident took place when South African spinner Imran Tahir was reprimanded – citing the display of personal message without prior approval from ICC – for paying tribute to the Islamic scholar Junaid Jamshed after his death.