New Delhi: India head coach Gautam Gambhir said he doesn’t want India to play any cricket with Pakistan until cross-border terrorism stops. Gambhir’s comments came after he was asked for his views on India-Pakistan cricketing relations following the Pahalgam terror attack. 26 were killed while several others were injured in the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
Terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists at Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow, in one of the deadliest attacks in Jammu & Kashmir in recent times. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the terror attack, which sent shockwaves across the nation, sparking massive outrage.
In the wake of the attack, several former cricketers have urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to suspend all cricketing ties with Pakistan. Gambhir echoed similar sentiments as he asked for a complete boycott of Pakistan in international cricket till terrorism doesn’t stops from across the border. The Indian head coach said nothing is more important than the lives of the Indian soldiers and citizens.
“My personal answer to this is absolutely no. Till all this (cross-border terrorism) doesn’t stop there should not be anything between India and Pakistan. Ultimately this is government’s call whether we play them or not. I have said this before also, no cricket match or Bollywood or any other interaction is more important than the life of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens,” Gambhir said at an ABP event in New Delhi.
“Matches will keep happening, movies will be made, singers will continue to perform but nothing comes close to losing a loved one in your family,” he added.
However, the India head coach insisted the final decision would be of the BCCI and the Indian government whether India will play Pakistan in major events or not. The arch-rivals have not played bilateral cricket against each other since 2013 and continue to meet only in major ICC events. India and Pakistan are likely to meet next in the Asia Cup 2025 this year.
“This is not up to me, this is for BCCI and more importantly, the government to decide whether we should play them or not. Whatever decision they make, we should be absolutely fine with it and not politicise it,” said Gambhir.
Will India meet Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025?
India and Pakistan are scheduled to square off next in the Asia Cup this year. The tournament is set to be hosted by India and it remains to be seen if BCCI will agree to play with Pakistan. Earlier, India legend Sunil Gavaskar had said he doesn’t see India playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup this year unless the relations between the two countries improve. India had refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup last year and played their matches in Sri Lanka.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir wants no cricket between India and Pakistan till cross-border terrorism stops. Gambhir said nothing is more important than the life of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
