Forfeit match against Pak even if it is final: Gambhir

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 18

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has called for a blanket ban on cricketing ties with Pakistan in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event, Gambhir, who was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 World Cup, said that the sentiment of the country is far more important that cricket or anything else including arts and culture. “This is what BCCI needs to decide. I have always maintained that there can’t be conditional bans. Either you got to ban Pakistan from everything or open everything with them. I understand it is difficult for India to boycott Pakistan in the ICC tournaments. But we are not playing Pakistan in the bilateral events and we should stop playing with them in the Asia Cup as well. England chose not to travel to Zimbabwe in 2003 and forfeited their two points,” he said.

Not the one to sit on the fences, Gambhir said while it will be very hard for the BCCI officials to boycott  Pakistan in the ICC tournaments. “My personal view is that there is nothing wrong in forfeiting the game. Two points are not that important. It is the country that is important. Those 40 or 41 soldiers who lost their lives, that is far more important than those two points,” he opined

“But if India decides to forfeit, then the entire country should back the Indian cricket team even if they don’t qualify for the semifinals or even if India have to play Pakistan in the World Cup final. If you let go off the final, the country should be ready for it. There shouldn’t be any backlash,” he added. 

Undecided on polls

Gambhir, who has been sounded out by BJP as a possible Lok Sabha candidate from Delhi said that he has not taken a decision yet.

“I haven’t thought about this because it is a completely different field. I need to speak to my family as well but I haven’t thought about it. 

If India decides to forfeit, then entire country should back the team even if they don’t qualify for the semifinals or even if India has to play Pakistan in the World Cup final — GAUTAM GAMBHIR