India to Sever All Cricketing Ties with Pakistan Following Pahalgam Terror Attack
In the wake of the recent militant attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the tragic loss of 26 lives, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a decisive move, declaring that India will no longer engage in any future bilateral cricket series with Pakistan. This decision was confirmed by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla.
Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has strongly endorsed this stance, emphasizing the necessity of severing all cricketing relations with Pakistan. In a statement to ANI in Kolkata, Ganguly remarked, “It is 100 percent necessary to do this. Strict action is needed. It is not a joke that such incidents happen every year. We cannot tolerate terrorism.”
Historically, India and Pakistan have faced each other exclusively in ICC-organized events such as the T20 World Cup, the 50-over World Cup, the ICC Champions Trophy, and the Asia Cup. The implications of Ganguly’s remarks on these international events remain to be seen.
Due to strained political relations, Team India has not toured Pakistan since 2008. The last bilateral series between the two nations took place in India during the 2012–13 season. In recent times, India has opted for a hybrid model for ICC events, playing all its matches in Dubai during the ICC Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan.
The Pahalgam attack has prompted India to implement several diplomatic measures, including closing the Integrated Check Post at Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals, and reducing the number of diplomatic staff in both countries
As the situation develops, the cricketing community and fans worldwide await further decisions regarding the future of India-Pakistan matches in international tournaments.
