Mumbai, March 3: Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has backed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s decision to not send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, citing security concerns. Gavaskar remarked that the recent incidents in the tournament have clearly demonstrated why India was not allowed to travel to Pakistan.
As per agency report, the BCCI had refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan due to safety concerns, leading to India playing its matches in Dubai, while other teams continued to compete in Pakistan. Gavaskar highlighted that the security lapses during the tournament further justified this decision. He pointed out that in two separate matches, spectators managed to breach security and invade the field while play was ongoing.
Referring to the Bangladesh vs. New Zealand match, he noted that a spectator ran onto the field and grabbed New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra. A similar incident occurred during the Afghanistan vs. England match, where an intruder managed to reach the players. According to Gavaskar, such breaches would have made it impossible for any government to approve India’s participation in Pakistan under the current circumstances.
When asked about the possibility of an India-Pakistan bilateral series, Gavaskar stated that such a contest would only be feasible if peace is restored along the border between the two nations. He emphasized that political stability is essential before discussions regarding cricketing ties can even begin, stating that if peace prevails at the border, both governments may consider initiating dialogue.
