Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has come under fire from former Pakistan cricketers, including Javed Miandad and Basit Ali, for his recent comments suggesting that Pakistan may not participate in the upcoming Asia Cup due to escalating political tensions between the two nations.
Gavaskar’s remarks, made in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, have drawn sharp criticism, with Miandad expressing disbelief and Basit Ali calling his statement “stupid”. Miandad, a long-time friend of Gavaskar, stated, “I can’t believe Sunny bhai said this. He’s a respectful, down-to-earth person who always stayed away from politics.”
Ali, on the other hand, urged for evidence-based discussions, stating, “Let the investigation conclude. Cricket should remain above political hostilities.” Former Pakistan spinner Iqbal Qasim also weighed in, emphasizing that sports should not be mixed with politics.
Gavaskar had suggested that the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which recently appointed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi as its president, could face dissolution following the attack. His comments have fueled debates on whether India and Pakistan should continue cricketing ties amid diplomatic tensions.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has advocated for cricket to remain independent of political conflicts, stating, “Whatever happens politically, cricket should go on.”
With the Asia Cup set to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the controversy surrounding Pakistan’s participation continues to unfold.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
