Don't Want To Jeopardise My Career: Former England Cricketer Monty Panesar Pulls Out Of PoK League

Former English cricketer Monty Panesar has decided to stay away from the cricket league which is set to be organised in the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, which India claims as its territory.

The former England spin-bowler has said that he took the decision after being informed by the England Cricket Board (ECB) that the cricketer may not be permitted to enter India for any cricket-related work in the future if he participated in the cricket league in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

"My career as a sports journalist has just begun," Panesar said, adding that he doesn't want to "jeopardise" the same for playing in the PoK cricket tournament.

The cricketer further added that it was his decision to pull out of the league and that he understands the consequences of participating in the controversial tournament.

Panesar also said that another reason for him opting against participating in the tournament was the problems between India and Pakistan over the issue.

The development comes as the BCCI has advised all the cricket bodies around the world to convey to their players that their participation in the PoK league would result in them being banned from participating in any cricket related activity in India.

However, Responding to a tweet by a Pakistani troll, Panesar said that he was not "blackmailed" by the BCCI and that pulling out of the league was solely his decision.

It should be noted that after BCCI's tough stance on the PoK league, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that the world's most powerful cricket body's stand was "completely unacceptable, against the preamble of the Spirit of Cricket, and sets a dangerous precedent, which can neither be tolerated nor ignored.”

However, responding to PCB's statement, a BCCI official said that the Indian cricketing board is not concerned about the Pakistan Cricket Board’s statement.

“We are not bothered about what statement PCB is putting out. We are mindful of Indian cricket and India," the official said.