Gautam Gambhir Advocates for No Cricket with Pakistan Amid Terrorism Concerns

Gautam Gambhir's Firm Stance on India-Pakistan Cricket Relations

Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, has taken a strong position regarding cricketing ties with Pakistan. During a recent event in New Delhi, he asserted that cricket should not occur between the two nations as long as cross-border terrorism continues, emphasizing that this applies to bilateral series, ICC events, and even the Asia Cup.

At an ABP event on Tuesday, Gambhir responded emphatically to inquiries about the future of cricket relations between India and Pakistan, particularly in light of the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

“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,” Gambhir stated, prioritizing national security over cricketing events.

Since 2007, India and Pakistan have not engaged in a full bilateral series due to ongoing political tensions. Matches are limited to multi-nation tournaments like the World Cup or Asia Cup, typically held at neutral venues. However, Gambhir believes that even these encounters should cease until terrorism is addressed.

His remarks follow the Indian government's recent retaliatory actions in response to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which specifically targeted civilians, including tourists.

“Not up to me, but we must not politicise this”: Gambhir supports government’s decision

While expressing his personal views, Gambhir acknowledged that the ultimate decision lies with the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“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,” he remarked.

He emphasized that while events like cricket matches and concerts will continue, the importance of family and loved ones surpasses all else.

“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.

Gambhir urged that national interest should take precedence over entertainment and should not be politicized. With India set to co-host the T20 World Cup next year alongside Sri Lanka, the possibility of a match between the two rivals remains uncertain.

“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,” he concluded.

Currently, India's matches against Pakistan in ICC events are scheduled to take place at neutral venues until at least 2027 due to previous security concerns. However, Gambhir's comments suggest that even these arrangements may need reevaluation in the current context. Notably, India is set to host the 2025 Women's World Cup, with Pakistan playing all their matches at neutral venues.