Kolkata: Former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly has said that India should break all cricketing ties with Pakistan and not play them even in the ICC and Asian tournaments. During the recently concluded Champions Trophy, India refused to play matches in Pakistan. Team India did play a match against Pakistan in Dubai though and won convincingly.
Ganguly was speaking on the changed situation after the massacre of 26 persons, primarily tourists, by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on Tuesday. Replying to questions from reporters, the former champion batsman and BCCI president said that there is some terror strike or other on Indian soil every year and this should no longer be tolerated.
“Hundred percent. India should do this (break ties with Pakistan). Strict action should be taken. It has turned out to be a joke that such things are happening every year. Terrorism cannot be tolerated,” Ganguly said.
Other cricketers who have strongly condemned the attack include Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Md Shami and Md Siraj.
BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla told Sports Today earlier that India does not engage with Pakistan in bilateral series due to the Indian government’s stand on the relations between the two countries.
“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’s stand. And we will not play with Pakistan in bilaterals going forward. But when it comes to ICC events, we play due to ICC engagement. ICC is also aware of whatever is happening,” Shukla said.
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