MUMBAI – Former Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have once again politicized the sport, using the Pahalgam incident as a pretext.
According to the Indian media reports, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has taken a hard stance over the Pahalgam incident and demanded that India sever all cricketing ties with Pakistan.
In an interview with an Indian news agency, Sourav Ganguly, spewing venom against Pakistan, said that cricketing relations with Pakistan should be ended 100 percent.
Meanwhile, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla stated that they stand with the victims of the Pahalgam incident and would act according to the government’s directives.
He added that India would not play bilateral series with Pakistan but would continue to face them in the ICC events.
Following the BCCI’s statement, the uncertainty now looms over major tournaments like the Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not issued any formal statement in response to the BCCI’s unilateral actions.
The last bilateral ODI series between Pakistan and India was played in 2012, after which the two sides have only faced each other in ICC events.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan former Captain Shahid Afridi said that the sports should not be politicized. Though, Afridi strongly condmened baseless allegations of India regarding Pahalgam attack, he said the sports should be kept away from politics.
