In wake of the horrific terror strike on April 22 in Kashmir’s Pahalgam area that left 26 dead, Gautam Gambhir has staunchly called for a total freeze on all modes of interaction with Pakistan. It is not merely cricket, but also cultural interactions like Bollywood joint ventures and cinema screenings. During an ABP function, ex-India cricketer Gautam Gambhir reiterate that even sporting activities in multi-country tournaments like the Asia Cup or T20 World Cup must stop.
India has already banned bilateral cricket relations with Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with the resumption for a brief period in 2012 for an ODI series. Now the two nations only meet in ICC events and Asia Cup.
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Gambhir stated any decision on playing future matches is the BCCI and Indian government’s choice. The September Asia Cup might witness India and Pakistan again, although the final schedule has yet to be decided. For security reasons, India hosted its Champions Trophy matches in Dubai instead of the host country, Pakistan. After an arrangement between the BCCI, PCB, and ICC, India-Pakistan matches in all ICC events will be held at neutral venues at least until 2027.
“My personal answer to this, is absolutely no. This is my personal answer, ultimately this is government’s decision, and ultimately, government will decide, whether we play Pakistan, or we don’t play Pakistan, but for me, I have said this before, and many years ago, I had said this, that no cricket match, no Bollywood movie, no artist, any kind of interaction is more important than the lives of our people. No interaction is more important than the lives of our people, than the lives of our youth, than the lives of our people. Matches will keep happening, movies will keep being made, singers will keep singing, but the person whose family is lost, nothing bigger than that. This is my personal opinion, that till all this doesn’t stop, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan,” Gambhir said.
“Playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup or T20 World Cup is not up to me. Honestly, this is not even in my jurisdiction. I think it is up to BCCI and more importantly, it is up to the government to decide whether India plays Pakistan or not, so whatever decision, government makes, I think we should be absolutely fine with it and we should not politicise that. Whatever the government decides, let’s stick to that.”
