Rajeev Shukla on Pakistan go to: This is solely cricketing invitation, shouldn’t be combined with politics

For the primary time in 17 years, two senior BCCI office-bearers — president Roger Binny and vice-president Rajeev Shukla — travelled to Pakistan and reached Lahore on Monday after crossing the Attari-Wagah border, honouring the PCB’s invitation to look at Asia Cup there.

The final time an Indian cricket workforce travelled to Pakistan was again in 2008 for the Asia Cup. Pakistan final hosted India for a bilateral collection in 2006.

The BCCI had refused to ship its workforce to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which led to a bi-nation ‘Hybrid Model’ association. But in a heartening gesture, the BCCI permitted Binny and Shukla’s participation in a dinner hosted by the Governor of Punjab province of Pakistan.

“Pakistan is the host of Asia Cup. The visit by this delegation is purely cricketing and there is no politics involved. It is a two-day visit and the Governor of Punjab is hosting us for dinner and all three teams Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan will be present. We shouldn’t mix cricket with politics,” Shukla informed mediapersons.

Shukla, who has been with the Indian cricket board for greater than 20 years, was part of BCCI delegation that got here for the historic ‘Friendship Series’ again in 2004.

Asked in regards to the probabilities of resumption of bilateral cricketing contests, the Rajya Sabha MP mentioned: “The decision with regards to bilateral series is taken by the Indian government and we would follow whatever the government suggests.” Binny recollected his final go to to Pakistan which by the way was greater than 16 years in the past when he was part of the Asian Cricket Council.

“My last visit of Pakistan was in 2006 when I was a part of Asian Cricket Council. Pakistan’s hospitality has been very, very good and we were treated very well,” mentioned Binny.