Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir calls for halt to cricket between India and Pakistan during conflict
Cricket faces a financial and logistical nightmare with the Indian coach calling for no more cricket between India and Pakistan due to military conflict.
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CRICKET is facing a World Cup crisis with Indian coach Gautam Gambhir calling for India and Pakistan to stop playing each other following their latest military showdown.
After weeks of mounting tension, India fired missiles into Pakistan on Wednesday morning heightening the chances of a full-blown military confrontation.
Though the two bitter rivals have not played each other in a full series for more than a decade they are regular opponents in one-off games in World Cups.
But Gambhir said all cricket contact between them must cease.
“Till all this (conflict) stops there should not be anything between India and Pakistan,’’ Gambhir said.
“Ultimately this is the government’s decision whether we play them or not. I have said this before, also, no cricket match or Bollywood or any other interaction is more important than the life of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens. Matches will keep happening, movies will be made, singers will continue to perform, but nothing comes close to losing a loved one in your family.’’
India will host a women’s World Cup this year and next year the men’s T20 World Cup.
The prospect of India and Pakistan not playing each other is a financial and logistical nightmare for organisers.
Test great and former Indian coach Greg Chappell once described the rivalry between India and Pakistan as “the Ashes times 10’’ and it is a goldmine for broadcasters.
In the recent T20 World Cup India and Pakistan played at a neutral venue in Dubai but the current standoff means they may not meet again in any format for years.
Originally published as Indian cricket coach Gautam Gambhir calls for halt to cricket between India and Pakistan during conflict
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