Former Indian captain and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly said that India should break all cricketing ties with Pakistan. Ganguly spoke to ANI in Kolkata. Over the years, India and Pakistan have only met in ICC events, such as the T20 and 50 Over World Cups, the ICC Champions Trophy, and Asian Cricket Council (ACC)- organised Asia Cup events. Speaking to ANI, Ganguly said, “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.”
Due to strained political relations between the two nations, India has not toured Pakistan since 2008, when they participated in the Asia Cup. The two arch-rivals last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 in India, comprising white-ball matches.
During the recently organised ICC Champions Trophy, India did not travel to Pakistan; instead, they played all their matches in Dubai under a hybrid model.
Also, the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman, Jay Shah, has decided on the hybrid model for all ICC events in the 2024-27 cycle, which will be held in India or Pakistan.
Following the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, Central government announced several diplomatic measures, such as closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, giving them 40 hours to return to their country, and reducing the number of officers in the High Commissions on both sides.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla reinforced that India will not play any bilateral cricket against Pakistan in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan travelled to India for a limited-overs series. India last went to Pakistan in 2008. The only time the two teams face each other is during international competitions with Pakistan coming to India for the ODI World Cup 2023. However, India refused to travel to Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025 and their matches – including the match against Pakistan and the final – were held in Dubai.
“We are with the victims and we condemn it. Whatever our government will say, we will do. We don’t play with Pakistan in bilateral series because of the government stand. And we will not play with Pakistan in bilaterals going forward. But when it comes to ICC event we play due to ICC engagement. ICC is also aware whatever is happening they will to it (sic),” he told Sports Tak.
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