The UBT Sena said that the Centre is “testing the waters” by getting in the Pakistan hockey team and then eventually would play cricket with Pakistan.
“The Hockey Asia cup is going to be held in Bihar. The Centre has cleared the Pakistan team to play. This seems to be an attempt to see how the people (of the country) react to it and then after gauging their reaction, they would play cricket with Pakistan. BJP and Centre should answer for this. After sending so many delegations abroad and trying to get votes through Operation Sindoor, now they are trying to go back to business as usual, this will not be tolerated,” said Aaditya Thackeray of the UBT Sena. Thackeray referred to the upcoming cricket tournaments in the UAE and other countries where India was slated to play with Pakistan and said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should clarify whether India was going ahead with these tournaments.
“If you play with Pakistan in UAE, then there would be questions on who are the real anti-nationals? You (Centre) tried a diplomatic outreach against Pakistan and they still managed to be in the United Nations Security Council, however, that was not in your hands, but this is in your control. If the BCCI decides that it would not play with Pakistan, then the International Cricket Council would have to listen,” said Aaditya.
Thackeray also noted that home minister Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah heads the ICC, so he can get this done.
