Gambhir joins chorus calling for India to completely boycott Pakistan: 'Nothing comes close to losing a loved one'

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has joined the chorus calling for a complete cricketing boycott of Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on 22 April. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for more than a decade now, their meetings limited to ICC events and the Asia Cup, and former opener Gambhir feels even that should be brought to a halt till Pakistan, long accused of harbouring terror groups on its soil, doesn’t stop its proxy war against India.

“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, known for speaking his mind and not holding himself back, said at ABP News’ ‘India At 2047’ Summit in New Delhi on Tuesday.

“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.

“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,” Gambhir, who currently is on a break with the Indian Premier League underway, added.

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Gambhir was part of the Indian team that had defeated Pakistan 1-0 in a three-match series in 2007, the last time the two teams met in a Test series. The southpaw was also part of the action when the Pakistanis came visiting a little over five years later for two T20Is and three ODIs, which remains the last bilateral contests between the two fierce rivals.

Up to the BCCI and Govt to decide, says GG on facing Pakistan

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who had also served as BCCI president between 2019 and 2022, too had called for a complete cricketing boycott of Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people had lost their lives with a majority of them being tourists.

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, meanwhile, had suggested that Pakistan could be barred from playing in the Asia Cup , which will be jointly-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in September later this year.

When asked about the possibility of facing Pakistan in the continental event, which will be taking place in the T20 format, Gambhir said it’s up to the BCCI and the Government of India to decide.

“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,” Gambhir added.

While the Indian government has responded to the Pahalgam attack with a series of non-military measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, the BCCI is yet to announce a blanket ban on Pakistan.