No cricket with Pakistan until terror ends: Gautam Gambhir

Government will decide if India plays Pakistan, but my personal answer is no, says head coach.

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India men's cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has called for a complete halt to all cricketing ties with Pakistan, including matches at neutral venues, in the wake of the recent Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Speaking at an event in Delhi on Tuesday, Gambhir took a stance when asked whether India should continue playing against Pakistan in tournaments held at neutral venues, ESPNcricinfo reported.

“My personal answer to this is absolutely no,” Gambhir said. “Till all this (terrorism) doesn't stop, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan.”

India and Pakistan have not engaged in a bilateral cricket series since January 2013. Their encounters in recent years have been limited to multi-nation events such as the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments.

The two teams most recently faced each other during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai. Potential clashes are also expected in the upcoming women's ODI World Cup, men’s Asia Cup later this year, and the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup.

Gambhir, a former Indian opener and World Cup winner, acknowledged that the final decision rests with the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), but reiterated that national interest must come first.

“Ultimately, this is government's decision whether we play them (Pakistan) or not,” he said. “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.”

When asked whether he would formally convey his views to the BCCI, Gambhir clarified: “This is not up to me, it's not in my jurisdiction, 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.”

Tensions between Pakistan and India reached new heights following a deadly attack on April 22 when 26 men were killed at a tourist site in Pahalgam in IIOJK. India swiftly blamed Pakistan for the attack, but no evidence was presented to support the claim, which Islamabad vehemently denied.

In response to the attack, India’s Cabinet Committee on Security approved several measures, including the closure of the Wagah-Attari border, a travel advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid Pakistan, a formal notification of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and the revocation of multiple categories of visas for Pakistani nationals.

On April 24, Pakistan’s National Security Committee issued a stern warning, declaring that any attempt by India to block the flow of water into Pakistan would be considered an act of war. The NSC also approved the closure of the Wagah border crossing.