'It is no joke,' Ganguly calls for complete cricket boycott of Pakistan amid post-Pahalgam tensions

Kolkata: Former Indian cricket captain and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has strongly advocated for India to sever all cricketing ties with Pakistan, citing continued cross-border terrorism and heightened tensions following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.

In a statement to ANI, Ganguly remarked, “100 per cent, this should be done. Strict action is necessary. It is no joke that such things happen every year. Terrorism cannot be tolerated.” His comments follow the Pahalgam terror incident on 22 April, which claimed the lives of 26 people and has triggered a wave of diplomatic and political responses from India.

Cricketing relations between India and Pakistan have remained strained for over a decade due to ongoing political discord. Since 2008, India has refrained from touring Pakistan, and the last bilateral series between the two countries took place in 2012-13 in India, consisting solely of white-ball matches. Encounters between the arch-rivals are now limited to ICC and Asia Cup tournaments.

In the most recent ICC Champions Trophy, India did not travel to Pakistan, instead playing their fixtures in Dubai under a hybrid model. The same model is set to continue for ICC events between 2024 and 2027, as announced by ICC chairman Jay Shah, with matches hosted in either India or Pakistan.

Following the Pahalgam attack, the Indian government has taken a series of diplomatic steps, including the closure of the Integrated Check Post at Attari, suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme for Pakistani nationals—who have been given 40 hours to return—and a reduction in diplomatic staff at both High Commissions.