The International Cricket Council on Saturday turned down BCCI's request to sever ties with nations, which are harbouring terrorism and clarified it had no role in such matters. ICC on Saturday snubbed BCCI's request to sever ties with nations, which are harbouring terrorism

In a major development, the International Cricket Council turned down Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s request to sever ties with nations which harbour terrorists. The ICC clarified that the international board has no role to play in such matters and BCCI's request can't be taken forward. In the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, the BCCI in a letter to ICC had requested the top board and its associate members to sever ties with nations which harbour terrorism.

Though, the letter didn't specifically mention Pakistan. The deteriorating political ties between the two nations have adversely impacted the sporting ties with the World Cup match between the arch-rivals under the scanner. Amid the growing tensions between the neighbours, BCCI had decided to write to ICC demanding a complete ban on Pakistan from the showpiece event. 

However, ICC has made it clear that no associate member can be barred from taking part at the World Cup and there is no chance anything like that would happen. "There was no chance that anything like that would have happened. The ICC chairman made it clear that the decision to ostracise a nation is taken at the government level and ICC had no rule. The BCCI knew it all along but still took a chance," a BCCI official was quoted as saying by PTI. 

The matter was discussed on Saturday during ICC board meeting in the presence of the international board's chairman Shashank Manohar. Acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary was representing the BCCI at the meeting. India's security concerns were also addressed at the meeting with the ICC assuring the cricket board of top security during the World Cup in England and Wales.

The official also added that none of the international players, who play in the Pakistan Super League have raised any such concern. "So many players from member nations play the Pakistan Super League and they would have never entertained such a request. Yes, security was a concern and it had been duly addressed," the official added.

Several former Indian cricketers including the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Mohammed Azharuddin had called for boycotting all ties with Pakistan following the dastardly Pulwama attack, which saw 40 CRPF soldiers getting martyred. Meanwhile, the BCCI has maintained that the decision to boycott Pakistan clash at World Cup remains in the hands of the government. 

India and Pakistan are scheduled to face each other on June 16 at Old Trafford in Manchester at the World Cup.