Sourav Ganguly says India stop playing Pakistan in all cricket formats including ICC events

Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has made a strong appeal to the Indian government and cricket authorities, demanding a complete boycott of Pakistan in the world of cricket. Reacting to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, Ganguly said that India should not play Pakistan in any format, not even in ICC or Asian tournaments.

“Terrorism cannot be tolerated. Every other year, these attacks happen. It has become a joke now. Strict action is necessary. India should break all cricketing ties with Pakistan — 100 per cent,” said Ganguly while speaking to the media in Kolkata. His remarks come amid national outrage and growing calls for punitive measures against Pakistan.

The terror attack, carried out by Pakistan-based The Resistance Force (TRF), a group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, targeted civilians in Baisaran Valley, Kashmir — a popular tourist spot. It has since triggered diplomatic fallout and escalated tensions between the two nations.

While bilateral cricketing relations between India and Pakistan have been frozen for years, the two teams still face each other in multinational events like the ICC World Cup and Asia Cup. Ganguly’s comments suggest a push to even sever those limited encounters in light of repeated terror incidents linked to Pakistani soil.

Backing Ganguly’s sentiment, BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla reiterated that the board would follow the Indian government's directives on playing Pakistan. He noted that India had already refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 and played all their games in Dubai instead.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also responded strongly to the Pahalgam attack, vowing justice for the victims. Addressing a rally in Bihar, he said India will track and punish every terrorist and their backers, no matter where they hide, and assured the nation that terrorism will not go unanswered.