Forfeiting WC match to Pakistan will be worse than surrender: Tharoor

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

Amid calls for to boycott its June 16 clash against in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, on Friday said forfeiting the match would not just cost two points but also be "worse than surrender".

"Reminder: at the height of the 1999 Kargil War, played in the World Cup, & won. To forfeit the match this year would not just cost two points: it would be worse than surrender, since it would be defeat without a fight," the senior said.

"Our government did not even declare national mourning wants to cancel a match 3 months from now? Is that a serious response to 40 lives taken in cold blood? BJP wants to divert attention from its own fecklessness and inept handling of the crisis. We need effective action, not gesture politics," the from added.

Asked about Tharoor's remarks, said there should be no cricketing ties till terrorism being encouraged from Pakistani soil doesn't stop.

"needs to adopt a strong stance against terrorism and in that strong stance is included," he said.

The (CoA) running Indian cricket Friday decided against taking any stand on clash against but said it would individually urge ICC members to "sever ties with any nation that is a terrorist hub".

There has been a call to boycott the June 16 face-off against Pakistan at the Old Trafford in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, which killed more than 40 CRPF personnel.

In a meeting to address the spiralling speculation around the match, the CoA deliberated on the matter but did not take any position for now.

Former India on Thursday said India stand to lose by boycotting Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup.

"Who wins if India decide against playing Pakistan in And I am not even talking about the semis and the finals. Who wins? Pakistan win because they get two points," Gavaskar told 'India Today'.

"India have so far beaten Pakistan every time in a World Cup, so we are actually conceding two points when by beating Pakistan, we could make sure that they don't advance in the competition," he said, adding that whatever the government decides, he would be with it "totally".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, February 22 2019. 16:30 IST