Dismissing chances of an Indo-Pak bilateral cricket series in near future, BCCI joint secretary Anurag Thakur has said it is not possible to resume sporting ties until the situation at the borders normalise.
"Everyone wants to see India-Pakistan cricket matches but our soldiers are getting killed on the border. Resumption of bilateral cricket is not possible until Pakistan army and ISI stop their activities. No game is above national security," Thakur told PTI Bhasha in an interview.
On Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal, Thakur said tough laws were needed to make cricket fixing and betting free.
"IPL has given so much to Indian cricket but it is also true that spot-fixing scandal has affected its image. Players conduct will play a major role to bring that lost trust back. Anyone who is found guilty should be given such stringent punishment that it should become an example for future generation of players," the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) president said.
"There should be separate laws for fixing and betting in the country," he insisted.
Thakur did not rule out chances of shifting the next year's IPL out of India in the wake of scheduled parliamentary election in the country.
"This issue can be discussed in the BCCI AGM to be held on 29th September. Election dates are not declared as of now and hopefully the schedule will be announced in November and we can take a decision only after that," he said.
Thakur reiterated BCCI's stand on Sports Bill and said that the board cannot be compelled to come under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
