Sourav Ganguly breaks silence on India Pakistan cricketing ties after Pahalgam attack
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has urged the BCCI to end all cricketing ties with Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. Emphasizing that "terrorism cannot be tolerated," Ganguly called for strict action in response to the tragedy.
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In the aftermath of the devastating Pahalgam terror attack that took the lives of over two dozen tourists, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly sent a strong message to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to discontinue any and all cricketing relations with Pakistan. Known for his candid opinions, Ganguly did not mince words. “India should break all cricketing ties with Pakistan. Strict action is necessary. Terrorism cannot be tolerated,” he said, as he engaged with public sentiment.
The BCCI is firm with its position that there will not be a bilateral game with Pakistan, home or neutral, unless the Indian government expressly approves it. This action is consistent with national policy and displays India's growing displeasure with repeated incidents of cross-border terrorism with minimal consequences for Pakistan.
Ganguly's call, issued in 2023, bears similar admonitions he made in 2019, after the Pulwama attack, wherein he expressed that sport cannot take priority over national mourning. "You do not play cricket with a country that supports terrorism. You are sending the wrong message." Thus, this latest statement merely is reaffirming that there is continuity and consistency coming from the former skipper: cricket does not coexist peacefully with terrorism.
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National Security Over Sporting Spirit
The BCCI has made it clear that meeting Pakistan outside of the ICC tournaments and the Asian Cricket Council tournaments is a no-go without the explicit clearance from the government. No surprises here. National interest trumps cricketing interest. Sourav Ganguly’s declaration strikes a chord with the many former cricketers and fans who believe that boundaries on the field start with boundaries off the field first.
There is consensus that India must stay away from Pakistan diplomatically and in sport until Pakistan acts truly against terrorism. In a country that is united by cricket and transcends boundaries, Ganguly's comment is a reminder that loved sports must come second to the lives of innocent people. The Indian cricketing icon's message is clear as the nation mourns the loss from the Pahalgam tragedy: enough is enough!
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