Patna (Bihar) [India], November 28 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed that the Indian team should travel to Pakistan for next year's ICC Champions Trophy and backed his stance by claiming that involving politics in sports is "not a good thing."
Uncertainty continues to revolve around India's travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, with the tournament just a couple of months away from commencement.
Due to strained political relations, India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, when they participated in the Asia Cup. The two arch-rivals last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 in India, comprising white-ball matches. Currently, they primarily face each other in ICC tournaments and Asia Cups.
India has firmly held the stance of not travelling to Pakistan, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice president Rajeev Shukla emphasising that the board will strictly adhere to the directives issued by the Indian government.
In the midst of the ongoing developments, Tejashwi has claimed that the Indian team should travel to Pakistan. He even made a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in 2015 and said if the PM can travel to Pakistan, then the Indian team should as well.
"Involving politics into sports is not a good thing. Doesn't everyone participate in the Olympics? Why shouldn't India go there (Pakistan)? What is the objection? If the PM can go there to have Biryani - then it's good, if the India team travels - why this is not good?" Tejashwi told reporters.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board will aim to reach a consensus during the meeting on Friday before making a final decision. The tournament is scheduled to take place between February 19 and March, but the ICC has yet to release the official schedule.
The report also highlighted that the meeting will address whether the tournament will be hosted solely in Pakistan or under a hybrid model, where Pakistan shares hosting responsibilities with another, yet-to-be-decided, country.