Gavaskar criticises BCCI's decision
However, Gavaskar’s comments did not attract a reaction from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) whose senior official Rajiv Shukla said the former captain was entitled to his own opinion.
“Being a Mumbaikar, I don’t agree with the urgency that exists to resume bilateral ties when there is no co-operation [on the attacks] from the other side," Gavaskar told NDTV before adding that India were due to play a lot of cricket in the near future and the addition of a series – against Pakistan – would not work in the team’s favour.
India are scheduled to host England for a four-match Test series followed by two Twenty20s before the tourists head back for Christmas with the second leg comprising five One-day Internationals to take place from January 11.
"Well, the players won’t get any time between the England series. Now they are not going to get a break. Players need the time to look after their injuries and get better."
However, after refusing to comment on Gavaskar’s apprehensions, Shukla also ruled out BJP protests against the Pakistan team playing in India.
"The leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley was part of this decision and he supported the move,” said Shukla. "You can raise a lot of issues but the public has always wanted to watch India and Pakistan play. The relationship between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also been cordial, irrespective of the political situation. The PCB has been very persistent over the past few years on resuming cricketing ties with Pakistan. We’ve also played against Pakistan even after 1971 war and after 1999 Kargil war.”
Shukla, meanwhile, ruled out the Indian team visiting Pakistan due to the law-and-order situation.
"Until the security situation in that country is conducive, there is absolutely no question of India travelling to Pakistan."
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (40)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1734716077-0/T-Edit-article-images-(3)1734716077-0-270x192.webp "icc fines heinrich klaasen for code breach against pakistan")
1734606611-0/Express-Tribune-(8)1734606611-0-270x192.webp "sindh govt announces public holiday")
1734587529-0/Express-Tribune-(1)1734587529-0-270x192.webp "pakistan to host another icc event")
1731295009-0/Untitled-design-(38)1731295009-0-270x192.webp "white supremacist nick fuentes claims assassination attempt at home suspect killed by police")
@Whats_wrong:
"after all an indian will always be an indian. They show their reality while we keep on ranting about ama ki asha"
The problem is that despite some Pakistanis supporting the aman ki asha effort, your government keeps supporting Islamic terror groups and continues its policy of proxy terror attacks against the Indians.
I wana tel u sumtng 2 al pakistanis..cricket in india isnt jus sport its a religion..it is jus sport fo pakistanis nt fo us...u cnt play wid our religion ...1st punish d mastermind of 26/11 hu r in pakistan..
@antanu g who writes "Even germany hosted olympics and other countries participated during Nazi rule."
I point this again and again that you Pakistanis fail to see the logic in most things.
Make unreasonable analogy and compare oranges with dinosaurs or headphones with toor dal.
@anyways I agree with you 100%. When it is in favour of Pak, they accept without any conditions. When it doesn't seem to suit them, like MFN status, they raise Kashmir issue. Even for showing an Indian show in pakistan, they want Kashmir to be resolved first!
A very sad opinion from a person like Gavaskar. I had very high regard for him...it is dwindling now. As a player he should work as ambassador of peace. Even germany hosted olympics and other countries participated during Nazi rule.
Lame excuse by Gavaskar. Be a sportsman.
@malik: Pakistanis want this series but Indians are totally against. You want to know the reason ?
For Pakistanis, this is an occasion to rub salt into the wounds. For Indians, it is a reminder how weak they are !
@khalid: And yet in 2010 floods, you happily accepted US$10 million from this proverty and unemployed Indians. How low one has to go just for money.
I am very excited about the PAK VS IND series. I dont know when people start think positive, they always look negative side not the positive one. And the fact that we all love Indian movies but we dont want to accept this factor, if you really Indians in that way then please boycott every thing which is related to Indian? so be realistic and I wish in future We Both Country have such great relationship that we dont need visa to visit India. I hope so :D
@123: I think we should let petty Pakistan to play in India as they have changed. A few months back when there was a talk of giving MFN to India, most petty Pakistanis said NO till Kashmir issue is settled. Now not a utter word of Kashmir, yet they want to come to India and play cricket. Thank God cricket has laid rest to Kashmir.
@gautamsehgal Whatever you say about your so called booming economy but the fact remains still India has more poverty than Pakistan and by the way go and check the unemployment rate in India which is more as compared to Pakistan.
@positive pakistani: Good for you, but its just not in our bloods to forget the murder of innocent ones!
Why are indians so much obsessed by Mumbai attacks? ... we get those attacks everyday...
@enlighten moderate: Yes man...but this is going to be reality very soon..as the way Pak is doing to the world by exporting terror and India is getting world's elite status..pak will surely be Somalia by its own doing and India will replace world power by its own doing.. cheers.. Welcome to reality..
Most of the Pakistanis want to play against India but most of the Indians do not want to play against Pakistan.
What could be the reason ?
There should be no cricket ties (or any other) between these two countries, until Kashmir issue is reoleved. As always Pakistan has sold Kashmir down the river! Pinning hope on IK/PTI for a better future - from POK.
@enlighten moderate: We know very well that we are not USA, but in committee of nations Somalia is more prosperous and respectful compared to our neighbors.
Regards,
Your neighbors,
@B+: who are you to decide the true color of India. 1947 is over. please get rid of old dramatic controversies stories. let’s start a new beginning and show the world what we can do when we are united.
No!!! We strongly condemn this move of BCCI!!! The wounds of 26/11, which are still as fresh as it was yesterday's incident, is just been sprinkled by salt... We'll make sure, how these pakistanis will play in delhi, ahmedabad and kolkata... (you pakistanis are not playing in mumbai for your info)... One simply does not sends terrorists to kill innocent masses and then begs for an ODI series... We wont let it happen... Shivsena!!!
Dear India,
you are not USA, we are not Somalia.Welcome to reality :).
regards, your neighbours,
"Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar today criticised the Indian board decision to revive the Indo-Pak bilateral cricket ties because he thinks that Pakistan is not cooperating in the Mumbai attacks probe" Mr. Gavaskar you are just exaggerating in your this statement by linking it with cricket and would you like to explain that how much more India co-operated with Pakistan regarding Samjhota Express' intentional and willful incident by some extreme Hindus in which mostly innocent Pakistanis were burnt alive????????
My partner is a Cochin man. I have many friends who are from all parts of India. I have come to the conclusion that Pakistanis and Indians are the same people at the very heart of it. Stop the fighting. People like Mr. Gavaskar are the problem. Peace! Regards, Rehan
Surprised at his comments. Thought he was a very clear headed man. Disappointed!
a very good decision by BCCI to support cricket. Mr. Gawaskar i respect you a lot but please understand cricket has nothing to do with the politics.
why we pakistanies are dying to play with india!
@123
If it comes to being equated with animals, Pak could easily be classified as a ' Khotas" ( Donkeys for the Non Punjabis)- they get kicked from all ends, the drones dont stop, OBL is found in Abbotabad,yet they come around & do the same thing again & again i.e. support terrorism even though it has eaten into the vitals of the nation.
@ the subject, what has changed that cricket should resume ?
The Indian Board's decision is highly laudable as have been the efforts of Mr. Zaka Ashraf and BCCI.
Mr. Sunil Gavaskar has an inalienable right to voice an opinion which is what he has done. If democracy is the best revenge, which I believe it is, then let's engage with the international community of which India is an important part with tact, restraint and mutual respect.
Remember that the road to Pakistan's prosperity and security runs through New Delhi, not Washington DC. The sooner we grasp and begin to act towards this geo-political reality, the easier it will be to free our country from the shackles of illiteracy, ignorance, intolerance and poverty which have for decades added to our underdevelopment and thus misery and have been perpetuated largely by keeping alive the "Deep State" syndrome.
individual have there opinion , But BCCI representing India. So I request every Pakistani Appreciate India for this move.
We all thought Gavasksr was an iconic figure but after all he finally has shown his true colors.
Boy he is trying hard to be the Hafiz Saeed of Cricket
Indians are like a herd of sheep. Anyone can whip them and set a direction for them and the will keep going until someone else whips them and direct them somewhere else.
These days, the whip is in the hand of media and poor sheep herd is obeying the masters as always!
One can have his opinion and there is nothing wrong in Sunil Gavaskars criticism of the Indian Cricket Board. For any sporting event in between two countries there has to be cordial relation between them. India is not asking to hand over Pakistan occupied Kashmir which belongs to India in return to resume cricketing ties. Instead of harboring and shielding terrorists India is only asking to cooperate with them and bring the perpetrators of the heinous terrorist attack which happened on 26/11 2008 in Mumbai
@Whats_wrong: Why don't u show us respect first by punishing the 26/11 culprits. Hyporites!
@Whats_wrong
please stop your state sponsored terrorism , then we can talk else we have no problem in taking the status quo as we are still developing but pak is not.
True face of Indians...Shame on you...
@SM_India: Then why come here and say anything? Go protest to your government, lok sabha, bcci, bjp, congress....whatever!
@Whats_wrong whats wrong in Indians always being Indian? Izzat is not a gift that can be given or requested... it is earned by one's work. Look at your doings, why it is not coming to you?
I strongly support Mr.Gavasakar. This is nauseatingly bad decision by BCCI.
after all an indian will always be an indian. They show their reality while we keep on ranting about ama ki asha....
ye loog humay kabhi bhi izzat nahi dain gae....Lets move on. We can live without expecting any respect from our neighbors.