India | Pakistan
'Can't ignore India': Sports Minister Anurag Thakur's retort to Pak Cricket Board threat it may not visit for World Cup
New Delhi: In a sharp retort to Pakistan's threat to pull out of the ICC World Cup next year in India, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has said it can't ignore India and all top teams will be there to play in the tournament.
The row erupted after Asian Cricket Council chief Jay Shah said on Tuesday that India will not travel to Pakistan for next year's Asia Cup and that the tournament could be shifted to a neutral venue.
This drew Pakistan Cricket Board's anger which called Jay Shah's comments unilateral and could "split" the international cricket community.
It also said moving the Asia Cup out of Pakistan "could impact future events in India" like the World Cup.
"The overall impact of such statements have the potential to split the Asian and international cricketing communities and can impact Pakistan's visit to India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and future ICC Events in India in the 2024-2031 cycle," PCB said in its statement.
According to a report in the media, India's sports minister Anurag Thakur said: "The ODI World Cup will take place next year in India and all big teams around the globe will take part in it. Because you can't ignore India in any sport. India has contributed a lot to sports, especially cricket. What is cricket without India."
It was for India's home ministry to decide whether or not the Indian cricket team would travel to Pakistan, he said.
He underscored that the safety and security of the players is a significant matter
Possibilities are always there and anything can happen, he added, apparently indicating that the final decision on team India's travel has not been taken yet.
The clash comes days before India and Pakistan face each other in the opening match of the Twenty20 World Cup in Melbourne on Sunday
India had last toured Pakistan for a bilateral series in 2005-06 under the leadership of Rahul Dravid.
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