Ahead of the first T20 match between India and Australia at Visakhapatnam, players including support staff and the crowd observed a two-minute silence for the soldiers who died in a suicide attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on 14th February.
Members of the Indian cricket team also wore black armbands to pay respect to the soldiers.
Later, at a news conference, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said that his team would comply with whatever the Indian government and cricket board decides on playing against Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup in England.
There are doubts over the match in June amid calls for India to sever all sporting ties with Pakistan in the wake of the suicide bombing which killed over 40 Indian paramilitary police in Pulwama.
The attack, claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, sparked anger and protests in India, although Pakistan denies any involvement.
Kohli: "We stick by what the nation wants to do"
"See firstly, all our sincere condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives from the Indian team and the whole set up," Virat Kohli told a press conference in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
"We're really shocked about what happened and really sad about the incident that happened.
"Our stand is simple, we stick by what the nation wants to do and what the BCCI decides to do and that is basically our opinion, whatever the government and the board decide eventually we will go by that and we will respect that. So that is our stand on this particular issue."
India are scheduled to play Pakistan in the group stage of the cricket World Cup on June 16 in Manchester, England.
India's captain Virat Kohli signals to the crowd to maintain silence while paying tributes to the CRPF soldiers ahead of the match. Source: AP
BCCI concerned over safety
A day earlier the BCCI urged the cricketing community to "sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates." It said it was also concerned over the safety and security of fans of Indian cricket at the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
"The BCCI trusts that the ICC and ECB will ensure that the most robust security is provided to players, match officials and fans of Indian cricket for the upcoming World Cup," a statement read.
IPL opening ceremony cancelled
IOC suspends discussions with India on future events
The IOC Executive Board, meanwhile has decided to suspend all discussions with the Indian NOC and government on hosting future sports and Olympic-related events in India, until "clear written guarantees are obtained from the Indian government to ensure the entry of all participants in such events in full compliance with the rules of the Olympic Charter – and to recommend that the IFs neither award to nor hold sports events in India until the above-mentioned guarantees are obtained."
It comes after India denied entry visas for two Pakistani shooters due to take part in an ISSF World Cup event in New Delhi. The two Pakistani had been due to compete in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event. As a result, the IOC Executive said it revoked the Olympic qualification status of the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Event.
It said the situation "goes against the Fundamental Principles of the Olympic Charter" as well as the IOC’s and the Olympic Movement’s position that equal treatment must be guaranteed for all participating athletes at international sports events, "without any form of discrimination or political interference from the host country."
The IOC headquarter in Lausanne, Switzerland. Source: AAP Image/EPA/SALVATORE DI NOLFI / POOL
“It’s a big setback for sports in the country,” IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta told Reuters.
“We’ve been in constant touch with the government, trying to explain to them and convince them to grant visas to the Pakistani shooters. This is really unfortunate.”
Last year the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced it had ambitions to host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2030 Asian Games as well as the 2032 Olympic Games.
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