India will lose if they boycott World Cup match against Pakistan, opines Sunil Gavaskar

SportsCafe Desk
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Sunil Gavaskar is of the opinion that the only party to benefit if India boycott their World Cup match against Pakistan will be Pakistan itself. Gavaskar also urged Pakistan Prime Minister and former cricketer Imran Khan to take the necessary "first step" towards improving ties with India.

The recent Pulwama terror attack which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel was one of the most deadliest terrorist attacks on Indian soil in the last decade. The huge loss of life by the Jaish-E-Mohammed-organised attack has triggered a nationwide outrage across various walks of life. One of the major areas where the escalated socio-political relations between the two nations is the sport of cricket.

There is a growing demand that the Indian team should boycott their 2019 ICC ODI World Cup game to be played on June 16. However, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar fears that the only one to suffer if India boycotts their match against Pakistan will be India itself.

"Who wins if India decide against playing Pakistan in the World Cup? And I am not even talking about the semis and the finals. Who wins? Pakistan win because they get two points.

"India have so far beaten Pakistan every time in a World Cup, so we are actually conceding two points when by beating Pakistan, we could make sure that they don't advance in the competition. (But) I am with the country, whatever the government decides, I am with it totally. If the country wants we shouldn't play Pakistan, I am with them," Gavaskar told India Today.

Meanwhile, the BCCI officials want to take the matter at hand to the ICC and will seek Pakistan's ouster from the event starting from May 30 in England. However, Gavaskar is not sure if their attempt will be successful with the international governing body.

"They can try but it will not happen. Because the other member countries have to accept that and I don't see that happening. I am not too sure an ICC conference is the right forum. Sure all of us are absolutely down with what has happened, it is such a tragedy but I am not too sure this would work with the ICC. The other counties will say that this is an internal matter between the two countries and they have to deal with it and not involve us," Gavaskar added.

Meanwhile, the former India opener also urged Pakistan captain and former cricketer Imran Khan to take the necessary "first step" towards improving ties with India.

"Let me speak directly to Imran Khan, someone who I have admired so much, who I think is a friend. Let me say to Imran 'when you took over you said that it is going to be a new Pakistan'.

"You said that 'India should take the first step and Pakistan will take two steps' but not as a politician, as an average sportsperson, I want to say to you that Pakistan is the one which should take the first step. You ensure there is no cross-border infiltration, you ensure that those in Pakistan who are creating problems in India are handed over, if not to India, then to the UN. You take those two steps and you see the number of friendly steps India will take," Gavaskar added.

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