World Cup 2019 | Pakistan ban cannot be conditional, asserts Gautam Gambhir
Former India opener, Gautam Gambhir, has asserted that the entire nation must be prepared to boycott Pakistan at all levels even when faced with the prospect of playing them in the World Cup final. Gambhir was adamant that there is nothing wrong with forfeiting the game and losing two points.
The Pulwama terror attack on February 14 that claimed the lives of over 40 CRPF personnel in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. That act of terror set in motion a series of events which escalated the socio-political tension between India and Pakistan which resulted in both nations launching attacks on each other. However, one of the consequences of the attack was the decision by the BCCI and CoA to write a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) asking their member nations to āisolateā nations from where āterror emanatesā.
While the ICC rejected the appeal of the Indian governing body, former India opener Gautam Gambhir is adamant that the Indian cricket team and supporters must be prepared to take whatever steps necessary in order to put pressure on Pakistan in the wake of the Pulwama attack.
āThis (playing Pakistan in World Cup) is what BCCI needs to decide and I have always maintained there canāt be conditional bans. Either you donāt play them anywhere or open doors for them. What happened in Pulwama is absolutely not acceptable. I am sure itās going to be difficult to boycott Pakistan in theĀ World Cup but they are not playing them in bilaterals. The best they can do is to stop playing in theĀ Asia Cup as well, thatās what I believe.
āEngland had decided not to travel to Zimbabwe in 2003 World Cup and gave those two points away, So, if BCCI decides that India should not play Pakistan they should be mentally ready and country should be too. It canāt be aĀ conditional ban, there could be repercussions as well. No media should blame India for not qualifying to the semifinals. The entire media and country should back the team as well,ā Gambhir said at a recent event in Delhi, reported Times Now.Ā
Theoretically, India could potentially also run the risk of a defeat in World Cup semifinal or final if they come up against Pakistan. When asked for his personal stand on the issue, Gambhir responded by saying, āThere is nothing wrong in forfeiting the game and losing two points. The lives of 40-41 (44) soldiers who lost their lives are far more important. My point is if India decides to forfeit then the entire country should back the team even if India have to play Pakistan in the World Cup final, even if you have to let go of that final they should be ready for it.
"All of us need to decide if sports is more important or lives are more important. If India
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