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Photograph: (Source: @ICC X)
In the wake of the Pahalgam terror tragedy, former India captain Sourav Ganguly urged the Indian board to sever all cricketing connections with Pakistan. The former president of the BCCI was questioned about the BCCI's decision to sever its connection with the PCB. Ganguly supported it and believed it was important. He demanded that the BCCI take firm action. According to Ganguly, instances involving terrorism occur annually and should not be accepted.
Without holding back, Sourav Ganguly told reporters in Kolkata, "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." India and Pakistan have only played each other in ICC competitions over the years, including the Asia Cup events run by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), the ICC Champions Trophy, and the T20 and 50-over World Cups.
The BCCI and the PCB, as well as the bilateral ties between India and Pakistan, have gradually deteriorated in the twenty-first century. The last bilateral series when India visited Pakistan was in 2007–2008. 2013 was the final bilateral series between India and Pakistan. After the 26/11 assaults in Mumbai, which claimed the lives of innocent citizens, everything changed.
Sourav Ganguly Breaks Silence:
'Break all cricket ties with Pakistan': Ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly blunt after Pahalgam terrorist attack#SouravGanguly #BCCI #INDvsPAK #PahalgamTerroristAttack https://t.co/ddXe6TqNMf pic.twitter.com/bv1KBxgzM0
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) April 26, 2025
Despite having one of cricket's most intense rivalries, India and Pakistan haven't played each other in a bilateral series since 2012–2013. India hasn't visited Pakistan since 2008, when they played in the Asia Cup, because of the two countries' tense political ties. The two bitter rivals last engaged in a bilateral series consisting of white-ball matches in India in 2012–2013. India declined to play in Pakistan during the most recent ICC Champions Trophy, opting instead to employ a hybrid format in which games were moved to Dubai.
Following the 2008 season, Pakistani players were barred from the IPL. India recently declined to go on a Champions Trophy tour of Pakistan. The Pahalgam incident happened a few weeks after they relocated. Rajeev Shukla, the vice president of the BCCI, discussed the matter and shared his thoughts.
Shukla affirmed in an interview with Sports Tak that the BCCI would abide by the directives of the Indian government. He stated that India only plays Pakistan in the major tournaments because of the ICC's involvement and that the government ordered them not to play Pakistan in the bilateral series.
Rajeev Shukla said, "We are with the victims, and we condemn it. Whatever our government says, we will do. We don't play with Pakistan in a bilateral series because of the government's stand. And we will not play with Pakistan in bilaterals going forward. But when it comes to the ICC event, we play due to ICC engagement. ICC is also aware of what is happening, they will do it (sic)."
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