We stand by what the nation wants to do: Virat Kohli on India-Pakistan World Cup match

Whether India should play Pakistan in the upcoming 2019 ICC World Cup at Old Trafford in Manchester on June 16 has been a bone of contention ever since the Pulwama terror attack on February 14. At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the attack that has shaken the entire nation leading to a strong sentiment of boycotting Pakistan.

India and Paksitan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012 but have played each other in ICC events. With the Pulwama attack happening, there have been calls to boycott Pakistan in the World Cup as well.

While BCCI are waiting for the government's decision and have said the match is too far away for them to take a decision as yet, various former cricketers have given voice to the debate.

While Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar said that India should play Pakistan and beat them, Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh have called for an absolute boycott.

India captain Virat Kohli broke his silence ahead of the first T20I against Australia in Vizag on Sunday and said they will stick by BCCI's decision on the matter.

This is what Virat Kohli said at the press conference on Saturday in Vishakhapatnam.

"Our sincere condolences to the families of CRPF soldiers who lost their lives in Pulwama attack. We stand by what the nation wants to do and what the BCCI decides to do. We will go by what the government and the Board decides, we will respect that."