Emphasizing that New Delhi utilises every opportunity to discuss foreign policy with its neighbours, including Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) however, on Friday said that cricket overtakes foreign policy at this point in time.
"When the leaders of India and Pakistan or India and Sri Lanka and India and Bangladesh talk, they utilise the opportunity to talk of other things: cricket was one of the main items on the agenda. The World Cup is starting of February 14 and cricket is in the air, it overtakes foreign policy" said MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his best wishes to the heads of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations participating in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
The 2015 edition of the World Cup, which is being hosted by Australia and New Zealand, commences on February 14.
Five SAARC nations - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan - are participating in the tournament.