India head coach Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday called for a complete halt to cricketing engagements with Pakistan at any forum, including Asia Cup and ICC events, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Gambhir said the national team should not be playing the arch-rivals till cross-border terrorism ends.
India have not played a full series against Pakistan since 2007 due to the tense relations between both countries. They only play each other at multi-team events, and even that should be discontinued, said Gambhir.
“My personal answer to this is absolutely no. Till all this (cross-border terrorism) doesn't stop, there should not be any sporting ties between India and Pakistan,” said Gambhir when asked about the future of Indo-Pak cricket in the current environment.
“Ultimately, this is the government's call whether we play them or not. I have said this before also that no cricket match or Bollywood or any other interaction is more important than the life of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens,” Gambhir said.
“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.” Asked specifically about India playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup this year or in the T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next year, Gambhir placed the onus on the BCCI and the government.
“This is not up to me, this is for the 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.” In the recent Champions Trophy, India played all their games in Dubai instead of host country Pakistan owing to security concerns. As part of an agreement worked out between the BCCI, the Pakistan Cricket Board and the ICC, all India-Pakistan matches in ICC events will be played in a neutral country till the 2027 cycle.
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