Archives for February 2019

Nasheman News : Without naming Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday urged the cricketing nations all over the world to sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates.

BCCI CEO Rahul Johri has written a letter to the global cricket governing body, International Cricket Council (ICC), urging it to ensure safety of Indian players in the upcoming ICC tournaments in the aftermath of the dastardly Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pulwama that killed more than 40 Centra Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers on February 14.

“This communication is being addressed to voice the BCCI’s 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 (sic) Indian security personnel,” Johri wrote in the letter, a copy of which is in possession of IANS.

“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,” he wrote.

“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,” he added.

The CEO also urged the ICC to provide the Indian players and officials quality security in the marquee ICC tournament.

“The BCCI also wishes to express its concerns over the safety and security of fans of Indian cricket at the upcoming 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. The BCCI reserves all its rights and entitlements in this regard,” he signed off.

The BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA) met for more than four hours in the national capital on Friday to take a call on playing arch rivals Pakistan in the World Cup on June 16 but was undecided on the issue and appeared to be waiting for an indication from the government before it can take a call.

“The June 16 (India vs Pakistan) match is very far away. We will take a call on that much later. We will take a decision only after consultations with the government,” CoA Chairman Vinod Rai told reporters after the meeting.

Nasheman News :  Senior BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday said the cricket is not an Indian game, and kabaddi and football should be promoted.

“Cricket is not an Indian game, it came from England. Most of the countries playing cricket were once colonies of England. There is a need to promote kabaddi and football,” Modi said after inaugurating the 64th National School Kabaddi Championship here. 

He stressed the need to encourage students to play kabaddi. “Students and youths can play kabaddi with zero investment unlike cricket,” he said. 

Nasheman News :The crucial BCCI CoA meeting on Friday failed to decide whether India should play against Pakistan in the upcoming ICC cricket World Cup in the United Kingdom in May-July in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack.

After a four-hour-long meeting, the three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) was undecided on the issue and appeared to be waiting for an indication from the government before it can take a call.

“The June 16 (India vs Pakistan) match is very far away. We will take a call on that much later. We will take a decision only after consultations with the government,” CoA Chairman Vinod Rai told reporters after the meeting.

Asked about the views of some former players and officials who have demanded a boycott of the match against Pakistan, he said he would not like to go into the comments being made by others.

In reply to another question, he said the BCCI would write to ICC about the need to boycott countries from where terror emanates.

“We’ll write to the ICC expressing our concerns about Pakistan and that security of players, officials and everybody else must be taken care of,” Rai said about the first decision taken at the meeting.

“We’re telling the cricket community that in future we must sever ties with nations from where terror emanates,” he said adding the copy of the letter to the ICC will be made public.

Rai also said that there will not be any Indian Premier League (IPL) opening ceremony and the amount of the budget allotted for the ceremony will be given to families of the victims of the Pulwama terror attack.

“There will be no IPL opening ceremony. Instead the money will be donated to families of Pulwama martyrs,” Rai said about the incident in which Pakistan-sponsored terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out a suicide attack in which 40 Central Reservce Police Force (CRPF) troopers were killed.

Nasheman News :In a major setback for India, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday suspended all Indian applications to host future Olympic-related events until New Delhi guarantees in writing the entry of all participants.

The IOC measure comes after two Pakistani shooters were denied visas to compete in the ISSF Shooting World Cup, starting here on Saturday, which also resulted in scrapping of two of the 16 Tokyo Olympic quota places on offer in the marquee tournament.

The denial of visas followed the February 14 Pulwama terror attack that led to the martyrdom of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldiers.

“Since becoming aware of the issue, and in spite of intense last-minute efforts and discussions with the Indian government authorities, no solution has been found to allow the Pakistani delegation to enter India in time to compete,” the IOC statement said.

“As a result, the IOC Executive Board also decided to suspend all discussions with the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) and government regarding the potential applications for hosting future sports and Olympic-related events in India,” it added.

The global sports governing body also urged all international sports federations not to hold events in India, or grant hosting rights to the country for future competitions, until the government had provided “clear written guarantees” to ensure access for all athletes.

The IOC also stated that the men’s 25-metre rapid fire pistol category, in which the two Pakistanis – G.M. Bashir and Khalil Ahmed – were due to take part, is not a part of the Olympic qualifying process. 

That particular event had two Olympic quotas on offer, which have been scrapped by the IOC following a written request by the National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP) on Wednesday.

Those quota places will now be included in the other ISSF World Cups scheduled for later this year.

International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) President Vladimir Lisin had earlier told the media on the sidelines of the World Cup opening ceremony on Thursday evening that all the 16 quota places could be scrapped. That number, however, has been reduced to two by the IOC.

“The IOC restricted the withdrawal of recognition as an Olympic qualification event to the 25m rapid fire pistol competition in which the two Pakistani athletes were supposed to participate,” the IOC said.

“This happened in the interest of the other 500 athletes from 61 countries participating in the other events who are already in India for their competition.”

Stating that no solution could be found despite best efforts of the IOC and the ISSF, the world body said the non-participation of the Pakistani shooters goes against the basic principles of the Olympic charter.

“This situation goes against the fundamental principles of the Olympic charter, in particular the principles of non-discrimination. In view of the above, we wish to inform that the IOC executive board decided to revoke the Olympic qualification status of the specific event,” it added.