Following the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has called for India to sever all forms of ties with Pakistan. He also expressed support for the idea of not playing Pakistan even in future ICC tournaments.
On April 22, a group of gunmen attacked tourists in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 26 people. India has accused Pakistan of being behind the attack, further intensifying the already strained relations between the two countries.
Speaking to the media in Kolkata on Friday, Ganguly said, “Absolutely, 100 percent—India should cut all ties with Pakistan. Strong action is necessary. This is not a joke that such incidents continue to happen year after year.”
India and Pakistan have not played any bilateral cricket series since 2013. Their encounters have been limited to ICC and ACC tournaments, where they are often placed in the same group due to the high viewership and commercial value of their matches.
However, Ganguly believes financial interests shouldn’t outweigh national security concerns. He said that if the BCCI decides to write to the ICC requesting not to be grouped with Pakistan in global tournaments, it would be a justified move. “Terrorism can never be accepted,” he emphasized.
This year, two major tournaments are scheduled—the Asia Cup in September and the Women’s ODI World Cup, also expected to be held in India. Groupings for both events are yet to be finalized. Reports suggest that the BCCI has already begun discussions with the ICC regarding the possibility of avoiding matches against Pakistan.
