Pakistan has demanded that the ICC take note of Indian cricketers wearing camouflage military caps during the third ODI against Australia, accusing Virat Kohli team's of politicising the game.
As a mark of respect to the CRPF jawans who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack on 14 February, Indian cricketers sported the army-styled cap and also donated their match fee for the welfare of the families of the martyrs.
Taking exception to the gesture, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the International Cricket Council must do something about it.
“The world saw that the Indian cricket team wore military caps instead of their own, did ICC not see this? We think that it is the ICC’s responsibility to take notice of this without the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) bringing it up.”Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistan Foreign Minister
India went on to lose the game at Ranchi, the third of their five-match series against Australia, by 32 runs to see their lead cut short to 2-1.
The call for action from Pakistan’s side comes even as the Indian board seeks an apparent alienation of its neighbours in the cricket community. The BCCI has written to the ICC asking it to “sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates”, amid increasing calls for India to boycott the ICC World Cup 2019 clash between the arch-rivals, scheduled to be held in Manchester on 16 June.
Pakistan’s information minister Fawad Chaudhry echoed Qureshi's sentiment.
“It’s just not cricket. And if the Indian team will not be stopped, Pak cricket team should wear black bands to remind the world about Indian atrocities in Kashmir.”Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan Information Minister
The minister urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lodge a formal protest against India with the sport's world governing body.
PCB chairman Ehsan Mani later said that the governing body is in touch with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the issue.
“We are talking to the ICC about it and I will not say anything more about it,” Mani said on Saturday at Karachi’s National Stadium.
Pakistan chief selector and former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, however, refused to be dragged into the debate.
“Look, I am a cricketer and my job is cricket. All this is politics and I don't want to be drawn into this,” the veteran of 120 Tests said.
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