Ravi Shastri opens up on playing against Pakistan in 2019 World Cup

Dixit Bhargav | 23/02/2019
Ravi Shastri opens up on playing against Pakistan

Ravi Shastri opens up on playing against Pakistan: The Indian Head Coach was recently vocal about the much-talked about issue.

Post last week’s unfortunate Pulwama attacks, there have been widespread calls against India playing Pakistan in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The matter has been discussed in the country to an extent that it has enticed a huge debate.

While some former cricketers or eminent personalities have spoken against India playing Pakistan in the World Cup, the others in legendary names such as Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar believe that India should play the match and win it rather than not participating in it.

Speaking to the media during the pre-series (against Australia) press conference at Visakhapatnam, even India captain Virat Kohli was asked the same question. Clearing the Indian team’s stance, the skipper mentioned that the team will do whatever the BCCI will decide.

“It’s entirely left to the BCCI”

In a recent interview with Mirror Now, India Head Coach Ravi Shastri expressed a similar opinion when asked about India’s playing against Pakistan. The 56-year old also added that he is comfortable if the government asks for the team to not play the World Cup at all.

“It’s entirely left to the BCCI and the government. They know exactly what is happening and they will take a call. We will go by what they decide. If the government says it’s that sensitive you do not need to play the World Cup, I will go by my government,” Shastri was quoted as saying.

Currently, the team is preparing for the first T20I to be played against Australia tomorrow. The two-match T20I series followed by a five-match ODI series will be India’s last international assignment before the world event which will start on May 30.

Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav
India Pakistan Ravi Shastri

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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