AGENCY
Beijing: India cannot have a bilateral cricket series with Pakistan as it has crossed the “Lakshmana Rekha” by sponsoring terrorism in the country, Sports Minister Vijay Goel said on Saturday.
“For everything there is a Lakshmana Rekha,” Goel, who is leading a 200-member Indian youth delegation to China, told the media.
“But when the line is crossed then a message has to be given. This (boycott) is a message,” he said defending the policy not to have bilateral cricket series with Pakistan. “We have clearly stated terrorism and sports cannot go side-by-side. As long as Pakistan doesn’t stop cross border terror and (instigating) trouble in Kashmir..then there is no chance for bilateral series and also the national mood doesn t support it,” Goel said.
He declined to comment on the letter written by Ramachandra Guha, one of the four members of CoA, to implement the recommendations of the Justice R M Lodha panel to reform the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
