Fantasy Cricket

Sunil Gavaskar Says India Should Avoid Bilateral Series with Pakistan Until Border Peace

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India and Pakistan are two of the biggest cricketing nations. Their matches attract millions of viewers. However, they do not play bilateral series due to political tensions. They only face each other in ICC or continental tournaments.

The last time India and Pakistan played a bilateral series was in 2012-13. Pakistan toured India for five white-ball matches. Since then, both teams have not played a single bilateral series.

India last toured Pakistan in 2005-06. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for major tournaments. In the 2023 Asia Cup and the ongoing Champions Trophy, India played its matches at neutral venues under a Hybrid Model.

Sunil Gavaskar’s Opinion

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was recently asked about the resumption of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan. He appeared on the Pakistani cricket show ‘Dressing Room’ on Sports Central. He said peace at the borders is necessary before any cricket talks can happen.

“By frankly having peace at the borders. It’s very simple. If there’s peace at the borders, then I think both governments will certainly say, ‘Look, okay, we’ve had no incidents, nothing at all. So let’s at least start with talking,’” Gavaskar said.

He also mentioned that some back-channel talks might be happening, but the ground situation matters the most. He explained that incidents at the border prevent any discussion about resuming cricket ties.

India’s Recent Dominance Over Pakistan

India and Pakistan recently faced off in a Group A match of the Champions Trophy. India, led by Rohit Sharma, won the match comfortably by six wickets.

Pakistan has struggled against India in ODIs since the 2017 Champions Trophy final. India has won six out of their last seven meetings, with one match ending without a result.

In the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, India has already qualified for the semifinals. Meanwhile, Pakistan has been eliminated without winning a single match.

For now, a bilateral series between India and Pakistan seems unlikely. According to Sunil Gavaskar, only peace at the borders can lead to discussions about resuming cricketing ties.

Story First Published at www.probatsman.com on 28 February 2025

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