India should not resume its cricketing ties with Pakistan until the situation at the border becomes “normal”, feels veteran actor Anupam Kher. Kher, 60, is in Jharkhand to shoot for an upcoming biopic on Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He plays Dhoni’s father Pan Singh in the movie.
“According to me, till the time our people are being killed on the front, matches should not be held. If diplomacy says that we should give a chance to enemy or neighbours, sports has its own status, people have their own status and music has its own status, that diplomacy has to be sorted out by the government,” he said.
Citing the recent killing of Santosh Mahadik in a shootout with militants in Kashmir, he said that not playing cricket will be a way to show sensitivity towards the bereaved family.
“Some things are above other things. What I feel is we should show sensitivity and cricket matches can be postponed for the time being, till situation becomes normal. When people stop killing innocents… then we will think. There is no urgency to play,” he added.
There is a proposal for resumption of cricket matches between India and Pakistan. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is awaiting the government’s response on the fate of the series. The Pakistan Cricket Board has already got clearance from its government. Both countries have not played Test cricket since 2007 but Pakistan toured India in the winter of 2012-13 for a short limited-over series.