The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday called for a boycott of countries encouraging terrorism, in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pulwama on February 14.

In a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Board CEO Rahul Johri also said the BCCI feared for the safety of players and officials participating in upcoming ICC events, including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

The mail to the ICC followed a meeting of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) here.

On the possibility of India not playing its league match against Pakistan at the World Cup, CoA chairman Vinod Rai said, “(June 16) is very far away. We will take a call on that much later in consultation with the government.” The government has said the final call will be the BCCI’s.

Mr. Johri said in his letter, “The BCCI wishes to address concerns and sentiments that have emerged after the recent dastardly terrorist attack which was carried out on Indian soil by a terror outfit based out of Pakistan which resulted in the death of 40 Indian security personnel. In view of the aforesaid terrorist attack, BCCI fears for the safety and security of players and match officials...”

“The BCCI trusts that the ICC and ECB will ensure that the most robust security is provided to players, match officials and fans of Indian cricket for the upcoming World Cup,” he wrote.

The letter said, “Most countries from which the members of the ICC hail (including United Kingdom) have strongly condemned this terrorist attack and expressed solidarity with India. BCCI urges the cricketing community to sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates.” The CoA meeting, chaired by Mr. Rai and attended by the other two members, Diana Edulji and Lt. Gen Ravi Thodge, decided to scrap the opening ceremony at this year’s IPL. “We will not have a regular IPL opening ceremony and the amount (the budget) from that opening ceremony will be given to the families of those who have been victims of this terror attack,” Mr. Rai said.