PCB to bring up CCI removing Imran Khan's portrait matter in ICC committee meeting

02/18/2019

PCB has stared that they will bring up the CCI, PCA removing Imran Khan's Portrait matter in ICC committee and added that sports and politics should be kept aside. The actions came in the response of the Pulwama terrorist attack that took away the lives of at least 40 CRPF soldiers.

PCA displayed solidarity with the families of Pulwama attack victims and removed Pakistani cricketers' portraits from Mohali Stadium as a humble step. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s portrait were some of the photographs to be removed from the PCA stadium, which came after CCI did the same in response to the attack.

“The PCB has also noted the recent turn of events and expresses its extreme disappointment as we have always believed and emphasised that sports and politics should be kept separate. History tells us that sports, particularly cricket, have always played a key role in building bridges between people and countries” said PCB’s Managing Director Wasim Khan in the statement as reported by The Indian Express.

“Removing portrait of former Pakistan cricket captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan and other legendary cricketers from one of the most historic cricket clubs and venues are highly regrettable actions. The PCB intends to take up these incidents with the BCCI and the ICC at the upcoming ICC committee meeting in Dubai later this month,” he further emphasised.

The CCI, an affiliated unit of BCCI, is home to the iconic Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, which has hosted many Test matches. The entire CCI premises, including its restaurant, adorn portraits of the sport’s greats across eras and from all nations. Imran’s portrait is one of them as he led Pakistan to 1992 World Cup triumph.

“See, CCI is a sports-club and we have photographs of past and present cricketers from all countries. We wanted to show, in our way the displeasure – on whatever is happening right now. It is a mark of protest. We have covered it as of now but can’t say right now if we would take it down,” CCI President Premal Udani told news agency PTI.

On Sunday, Punjab Cricket Association Mohali Stadium too removed photos of former Pakistan Cricket legends.

“As a humble step, the PCA has decided to show its solidarity with the families of martyrs of the Pulwama attack. There is so much anger in the nation against the heinous attack and PCA is no different in this,” said PCA treasurer Ajay Tyagi to PTI.

Tyagi said among the Pakistani cricketers whose photographs which have been removed from the PCA include that of Imran, Shahid Afridi, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram.

In the three days since the attack, which is termed as the deadliest in three decades in J&K, many sportspersons and cricketers have condemned the act. Some sportspersons have also stepped forward and made contributions towards the families of the soldiers killed.

Pakistan-based terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for the attacks.