Hanumantha Rao requests BCCI to appeal ICC to ban Pak from World Cup

Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao, on Wednesday, in a letter said it is "revenge time" for Indians following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack and requested the BCCI to appeal the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ban Pakistan from participating in the World Cup.

In the letter addressed to the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators and the BCCI, Rao reasoned that his request comes because "Pakistan Government is encouraging terrorists to strike on Indian soil".

The former Minister of Sports of United Andhra Pradesh government said: "If Pakistan cricket team is not allowed to play in the World Cup, they may realise, that what they are doing is wrong and may desist with such activities in future."

Rao lauded the Indian Air Force strikes across the LoC that destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) base camp at Balakota in Pakistan and said: "I salute the bravery of Indian Air Force pilots who have made the entire country proud by striking terror targets in Pakistan."

Twelve days after Pulwama attack, the Indian Air Force on Tuesday carried out multiple aerial strikes at terror launch pads at various places in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, destroying control rooms of JeM and some other infrastructure.