'Terrorism cannot be tolerated': Legendary India captain joins call to cut all cricketing ties with Pakistan

After Shreevats Goswami, legendary Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has become the latest voice to call for India to cut all cricketing ties with Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. At least 26 people lost their lives in the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which took place on Tuesday.

So far, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said that it will continue to boycott bilateral series against Pakistan and follow whatever the Indian government’s policy is. It has also rejected the reports that the Indian board has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to put India and Pakistan in separate groups in the upcoming global tournaments.

Ganguly wants India to break cricket ties with Pakistan

Ganguly, however, feels “terrorism cannot be tolerated” and the time has come for India and the BCCI to sever all cricketing ties with Pakistan.

“100 per cent, this (breaking ties with Pakistan) should be done. Strict action is necessary. It is no joke that such things happen every year. Terrorism cannot be tolerated,” Ganguly said on Friday.

With India being the biggest financial power in cricket, no India-Pakistan matches in ICC events will have a negative commercial impact on the neighbouring country’s cricket team and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

India have not been playing bilateral cricket with Pakistan since 2012-13 due to poor relations between the two countries. Since then, they have only met each other in ICC and Asian Cricket Council events.

India last travelled to Pakistan for a cricket assignment in 2008.

Earlier, former Bengal cricketer Goswami had said that the time has come for India to completely boycott Pakistan in cricket.

“SAY NO TO CRICKET ! And this is exactly why I say - you don’t play cricket with Pakistan. Not now. Not ever. When BCCI or the government refused to send India to the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, some had the audacity to say, ‘Oh, but sport should rise above politics.’ Really? Because from where I stand, murdering innocent Indians seems to be their national sport. And if that’s how they play - then it’s time we respond in a language they truly understand. Not with bats and balls. But with resolve. With dignity. With zero tolerance,” he wrote on X.

Since the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari and revoked the visas issued to Pakistani nationals in India.