Cricket with Pakistan impossible in current circumstances, says Anurag Thakur
The BCCI joint secretary feels that with the current tension at the border, it is not an ideal scenario for the two countries to play each other on the cricket field.
Dismissing chances of an Indo-Pak bilateral cricket series in near future, BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur has said it is not possible to resume sporting ties until the situation at the borders normalise.
"Everyone wants to see India-Pakistan cricket matches but our soldiers are getting killed on the border. Resumption of bilateral cricket is not possible until Pakistan army and ISI stop their activities. No game is above national security," Thakur told PTI Bhasha in an interview.
On Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal, Thakur said tough laws were needed to make cricket fixing and betting free.
"IPL has given so much to Indian cricket but it is also true that spot-fixing scandal has affected its image. Players conduct will play a major role to bring that lost trust back. Anyone who is found guilty should be given such stringent punishment that it should become an example for future generation of players," the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) president said.
"There should be separate laws for fixing and betting in the country," he insisted.
Thakur did not rule out chances of shifting the next year's IPL out of India in the wake of scheduled parliamentary election in the country.
"This issue can be discussed in the BCCI AGM to be held on 29th September. Election dates are not declared as of now and hopefully the schedule will be announced in November and we can take a decision only after that," he said.
Thakur reiterated BCCI's stand on Sports Bill and said that the board cannot be compelled to come under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
"RTI does not apply on NGOs, media or political parties. If under current law, BCCI does not come under the ambit of RTI then why should we? Whenever there is a change in this scenario then whose who will come under RTI, will come. BCCI does not make laws but follows it for sure," said the BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh.
"RTI does not define anywhere that we cannot use the term India for our team. As far as sports ministry is concerned we do not take grants from it rather we give money to them."
On the notice issued to HPCA by the state registrar of cooperative societies in fraud and misappropriation case, Thakur said that they are planning to challenge it in court.
"We were a society in 2005 but passed a resolution to convert HPCA into a company with the approval of centre and the BCCI. Now HPCA is a company and I don't know how registrar of societies has issued a notice to it. We may challenge it in the court," he said.
Thakur also denied the allegations of allowing players from other states to play Ranji cricket from his state on the basis of fake domicile certificates.
"These are all politically motivated allegations. We do not issue certificates. The state government should investigate that who has issued such certificates to players, if any and punish them. HPCA has done so much for cricket in Himachal and it it for everyone to see," he pointed out.