After the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that cost the lives of 26 civilians, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has demanded complete cutting of cricketing ties with Pakistan. Ganguly emphasized the necessity to act tough against terrorism, stating that such attacks could never be accepted.
"It needs to be smashed, 100%. Firm action has to be taken. It's no laughing matter that it continues to come back every year. Terrorism can't be allowed," Ganguly claimed.
The assault by suspected terrorists of The Resistance Front, which is an extension of the banned organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, on tourists in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadow on April 22 was preceded by escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after the Indian government made a range of moves to retaliate.
In sympathy with the victims, players of Mumbai Indians and SunRisers Hyderabad, and match officials, wore black armbands and observed a minute's silence while playing their IPL 2025 match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also announced the suspension of cheerleaders and fireworks for the match as a gesture of respect.
Several Indian cricketers past and present like Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, and Suresh Raina have condemned the attack and offered their sympathies to the victims' families.
The Indian government cancelled all sorts of visas issued to Pakistani citizens apart from long-term, diplomatic, and official visas from April 27 onwards. Demonstrations have taken place before Pakistani missions in Nepal, Britain, and Australia, as per the public unrest over the issue.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made an offer to be involved in an "neutral and transparent" investigation into the attack. But Indian officials have had reservations over Pakistan being involved in such an inquiry.
Ganguly's appeal to cut cricketing ties with Pakistan is a reflection of a general mood in India for standing up to terrorism. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series of cricket since 2012-13, with the games restricted to international competitions. Ganguly's comments could have implications for future action on cricketing relations between the two countries.
