A report published by the Times of India said India may also consider withdrawing from the tournament if the demand isn’t met. Boycotting just the Pakistan game has been another suggestion from some quarters. The Times of India report further states that the matter has not been communicated directly to the ICC yet, and that a call regarding that will be taken by Vinod Rai, the CoA chairman, on Thursday, February 21. The letter is believed to have been drafted by the office of the BCCI CEO Rahul Johri.

Our heartfelt condolences to the CRPF Jawans who lost their lives in the #PhulwamaTerrorAttack – Acting Hon.Secretary, Mr. Amitabh Choudhary pic.twitter.com/J1BXYJxulb

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 15, 2019

Various sources have weighed in on the matter, and while some have called the BCCI’s move a “political gimmick”, others have said that it is not the board’s discretion to decide who can participate in a tournament run by the world governing body. There is also the fact that it could have deep legal consequences for the BCCI.

The BCCI’s move could be influenced by several factors, ranging from government pressure to public sentiment. The attacks have resulted in mass public outrage. The prestigious Cricket Club of India has covered a portrait of Imran Khan, the former Pakistan all-rounder and the country’s current prime minister, on its wall of cricketing heroes. Public figures, including former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and former India captain Sourav Ganguly, have called for severance of cricketing ties between the two countries.

“The PCB has noted the recent turn of events and expresses its extreme disappointment as we have always believed and emphasized that sports and politics should be kept separate,” he said. “History tells us that sports, particularly cricket, have always played a key role in building bridges between people and countries.”

The 2019 World Cup begins on May 30. India are scheduled to play Pakistan on June 16 in Manchester. Tickets for the clash have already been sold out.