Sourav Ganguly calls for complete break in cricket ties with Pakistan after Pahalgam attack
The former BCCI president urges a total suspension of India-Pakistan cricket relations following the terrorist attack, fueling a major diplomatic and sporting flashpoint.
Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly has issued a strong call for India to sever all cricketing ties with Pakistan following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Ganguly said, “100 per cent — India should break ties with Pakistan. Taking strict action is necessary. This is not a joke — for this to happen every year. Terrorism cannot be tolerated.”
Ganguly emphasized that repeated terrorist incidents must not be taken lightly, calling for unwavering action against ongoing threats. His remarks reflect growing sentiment within parts of the Indian cricket and political communities, especially in light of the heightened tensions between the two nations.
BCCI reiterates alignment with government policy
Echoing a similar tone, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla stressed that India’s cricketing relationship with Pakistan remains dictated by government policy.
“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),” Shukla told Sports Tak.
Shukla’s comments underline that while bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan remains suspended, the two teams still face each other in ICC tournaments under the global cricket body’s regulations.
BCCI denies advocating complete severing of ties
Despite strong public statements, the BCCI has refuted claims that it requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to separate India and Pakistan into different groups at future global tournaments.
Amid reports suggesting that India’s governing body had formally approached the ICC following security concerns raised after the Pahalgam terror attack, a BCCI official dismissed the notion. A BCCI office-bearer firmly stated it was “news to him,” indicating that no such communication had been made.
Cricketing ties under intense scrutiny
As political and public pressure mounts following the latest attack, calls like Ganguly’s for stronger action resonate deeply. While ICC tournament fixtures may still mandate India-Pakistan encounters, the prospects for bilateral series between the two nations seem increasingly remote, highlighting the deep divisions that transcend the cricketing arena.
