New Delhi, February 21: Amid growing demands for a boycott of India-Pakistan match in World Cup 2019 in the wake of Pulwama attack, Pakistani cricket fan Adil Taj pitched for dialogue between the two hostile neighbours. In a video message, Adil Taj, who shot to fame in 2018 when he sang India's national anthem during India vs Pakistan match, said cricket is bridging the gap between the two countries and appealed Indians not to boycott the scheduled Indo-Pak clash in World Cup 2019.

Citing examples of how cricketers of India and Pakistan share a friendly bond, Adil Taj said nothing will change if cricket is boycotted. "Fans of India and Pakistan live peacefully in the United Arab Emirates. Pakistani cricketers openly say they receive more love in India than Pakistan," Taj said in the video message. He said fans are eagerly waiting for the scheduled India-Pakistan clash in World Cup 2019 and cricket will help to bridge the rift. India vs Pakistan ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Match Should Go Ahead As Planned, Says Farokh Engineer.

Video message of Adil Taj on India vs Pakistan match:

Following the attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, several people including former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials Sanjay Patel and Rajiv Shukla demanded that India boycott the World Cup match against Pakistan. 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were killed in the Pulwama attack. India Lose by Not Playing Pakistan in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Says Sunil Gavaskar; Urges Imran Khan to Act.

On Wednesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said a decision on the group match between India and Pakistan at the ODI World Cup will be taken at its next meeting. According to ICC officials, the game's global governing body is likely to take a call on cricket ties between the two south Asian nations at the February 27 meeting in Dubai.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 21, 2019 04:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).