India urged to boycott Pakistan in cricket World Cup after Kashmir attack

PICTURES REMOVED

The Cricket Club of India (CCI) said it supported a boycott of Pakistan at the World Cup in June.

"Though CCI is a sporting association, nation comes first, even before sports," Suresh Bafna, its secretary, told Reuters partner ANI.

In CCI's Mumbai office, a cloth had been placed over a portrait of former Pakistan captain and current Prime Minister Imran Khan, ANI and other media reported.

Photographs of Pakistani cricketers were removed from inside a cricket stadium in the northern Indian state of Punjab, which borders Pakistan, Indian media reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who faces an election that must be held by May, has promised a strong response. Pakistan has recalled its ambassador to India for consultations amid escalating tensions.

Coverage of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 competition has been blacked out in India.

Event management company IMG Reliance decided against showing the matches live, and Indian television channel D-Sport suspended coverage of the Twenty20 league.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed "extreme disappointment" on its website https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pcb-statement-on-production-of-hbl-psl.html.

"Denying India cricket fans the right to follow PSL ... as well as covering or removing portrait of former Pakistan cricket captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan and other legendary cricketers from one of the most historic cricket clubs and venues are highly regrettable actions," PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan said.

The PCB said it would take up the incidents at the ICC committee meeting in Dubai later this month.