Tensions are skyrocketing ahead of the India vs Pakistan World Cup showdown, with Congress veteran Rashid Alvi delivering a scathing critique. In an IANS interview on February 15 from New Delhi, the leader urged a complete boycott, likening any engagement to a deadly festival with adversaries.
“Sports are for allies. With terrorists who bomb our lands and murder innocents, it’s not about victory or defeat—it’s blood-soaked Holi,” Alvi remarked starkly.
Drawing from recent horrors, he recalled the Pahalgam attack that claimed nearly 30 lives. “Pakistan remains unrepentant in its terror patronage. We’ve witnessed their handiwork firsthand,” he charged.
Alvi clarified the BCCI’s position: firmly tethered to governmental approval. “The board doesn’t call the shots alone; India’s government holds the reins. They must decide against this farce.”
Optimism for Team India shone through regardless. “If it happens Sunday, expect India’s dominance and Pakistan’s crushing loss—as per tradition,” he forecasted.
Fellow Congress MP TS Singhdeo framed the debate broadly: “Debating this T20 World Cup fixture underscores a bigger question—do we seek ties with a terror-exporting neighbor? Peaceful coexistence demands addressing border atrocities first.”
SP legislator Abu Azmi from Maharashtra decried the inconsistency: “Massive terror strikes from Pakistan, yet we extend olive branches via cricket? It’s untenable.”
This chorus of dissent from opposition heavyweights amplifies calls to prioritize security over spectacle, casting a shadow on what promises to be an electrifying contest. The political storm could yet derail the pitch-side drama.