Sourav Ganguly and Rajeev Shukla supported ending cricket ties with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to completely cut cricketing ties with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking to the media, the former BCCI President was asked if ending ties with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was the right step. Ganguly strongly agreed and said strict action must be taken immediately.
“100 per cent, this (breaking ties with Pakistan) should be done. Strict action is necessary. It is no joke that such things happen every year. Terrorism cannot be tolerated,” Ganguly said, calling for strong action from the BCCI.
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The relationship between India and Pakistan, both politically and in cricket, has declined significantly in the 21st century. India last toured Pakistan for a bilateral series in 2007-08, and the final bilateral series between the two sides took place in 2013. The situation worsened after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which claimed the lives of many innocent civilians.
Since then, Pakistani players have been banned from participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the inaugural 2008 season. Recently, the BCCI refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. This decision came weeks before the Pahalgam incident, further straining cricket relations between the two countries.
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BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla also commented on the issue. Speaking to Sports Tak, Shukla said that the BCCI would continue to follow the Indian government’s orders regarding cricketing relations with Pakistan. He confirmed that India would not engage in bilateral series with Pakistan moving forward.
“We are with the victims, and we condemn it. Whatever our government says, we will do. We don’t play with Pakistan in a bilateral series because of the government’s stand. And we will not play with Pakistan in bilaterals going forward. But when it comes to the ICC event, we play due to ICC engagement. ICC is also aware of what is happening, they will do it (sic),” Rajeev Shukla said.
India and Pakistan now face each other only in ICC and Asian Cricket Council tournaments, as political tensions continue to impact sporting ties between the two nations.
