The controversy over India's decision not to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy has drawn sharp criticism from Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former cricketer Tejashwi Yadav who called for separating politics from sports.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2015 visit to Lahore, Yadav questioned the inconsistency in India's approach.
“There should be no politics in sports,” Yadav said, adding, “If PM Modi can go to Pakistan to eat biryani, why can’t the Indian team visit Pakistan to play cricket?”
Double Standards in Relations
Yadav criticized the perceived double standards in India's policies toward Pakistan.
He argued that while a diplomatic visit by the Prime Minister is deemed acceptable, a cricket tour is not. “This isn’t the right way to think,” he emphasized.
Champions Trophy Uncertainty
India's refusal to participate in the tournament has cast doubts over its future. To address this, India suggested a hybrid model where its matches would take place in neutral venues like Sri Lanka and the UAE. However, this proposal faced opposition from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The ICC is set to hold a crucial meeting to resolve the deadlock.
The last bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan was held in 2012-13 in India, with the teams meeting only in ICC tournaments since then.
