Anurag Thakur shoots down any chance of India-Pakistan bilateral series in the near future

Anurag Thakur, the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), says that chances of India resuming bilateral ties with arch-rivals Pakistan in the near future is rare considering how India’s neighbours have repeatedly been crossing the line of terror over its borders.

Pakistan are understood to be behind the severe unrest that has gripped the disputed region of Kashmir over the past two or three months following the death of an alleged terrorist. A war of words had broken out on both sides of the border, and the situation has boiled over in recent days following the terrorist attack in Uri which saw as many as 17 Indian soldiers lose their lives.

Thakur, a Member of Parliament as well as the president of the youth wing of the BJP which holds the power in the centre, was in the South Indian city of Calicut, Kerala, to attend the BJP National Council Meet and he didn’t shy away from making his political stand clear on the matter.

"In the context of what has happened even considering such a thought is not appropriate," he told reporters when asked if there is any plan to play cricket with Pakistan.

India last played a bilateral series against Pakistan in 2012 but have played against their neighbours in major ICC tournaments as well as the Asia Cup held earlier this year. Thakur was quick to rub salt into the wounds of Pakistan cricket supporters who are still awaiting their first win over India in an ICC tournament reminding them of their dismal record. He also added that they would face a similar result should the situation escalate so much that India decides that enough was enough and ultimately go to war with Pakistan.

One would hope that the conditions don’t deteriorate to that an extent of the loss of lives on both sides of the border never going to be the answer. Thakur also ascertained that the best solution for the dispute was to force Pakistan to mend their ways through means other than with military might.

"India has defeated Pakistan in wars of 1965, 1971 and Kargil. It also beat Pakistan in all World Cup cricket matches. It can decimate Pakistan anytime, but it is more important to isolate it globally," Thakur said. “Priority is to expose Pakistan as a country which sponsors terrorism.”