Former BCCI president and ex-India captain Sourav Ganguly has called for India to sever all cricketing ties with Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Kashmir. Currently, India and Pakistan do not engage in bilateral cricket series due to ongoing political tensions and only meet during International Cricket Council (ICC) events.
On Tuesday, April 22, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, resulted in the death of over 20 people. The attack, which shocked the entire nation, was claimed by The Resistance Force (TRF), a Pakistani terrorist group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Terrorism Must Be Condemned: Sourav Ganguly
Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly strongly condemned the recent terror attack, stating that India must sever all cricketing ties with Pakistan, including in ICC tournaments. Speaking to reporters, Ganguly emphasized that terrorism should never be tolerated.
“Absolutely, India should break cricket relations with Pakistan. Firm action needs to be taken. It’s no laughing matter that such incidents keep happening every year. Terrorism cannot and should not be tolerated,” the Indian cricket icon asserted.
Echoing Ganguly’s sentiments, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla also criticized the terror attack and reaffirmed that India would not engage in any bilateral cricket series with Pakistan going forward. In a gesture of solidarity, the BCCI honored the victims of the Pahalgam attack.
During the IPL 2025 clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday, April 23, players, match officials, commentators, and support staff wore black armbands to pay their respects. A minute’s silence was observed before the match began. Team captains Hardik Pandya and Pat Cummins both condemned the attack during the toss and paid tribute to the victims.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has taken swift action in response to the attack. Several arrests have been made, and investigations are underway to apprehend all those involved. Additionally, the government has revoked visas issued to Pakistani nationals currently in India.