‘If there’s peace at the borders…’ Sunil Gavaskar on resumption of India-Pakistan bilateral cricket series – The Financial Express

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on the resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan. The two arch-rivals last played a bilateral series in 2012-13 when Pakistan visited India for a white-ball series. However, due to ongoing political tensions, their cricketing encounters have been limited to global and continental tournaments.
During a recent discussion on ‘Ten Sports’ show ‘Dressing Room’, Gavaskar suggested that bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan can only resume if both governments ensure peace at the borders. He emphasised that border tensions remain the primary hurdle.
“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 talking’,” Gavaskar stated.
Gavaskar acknowledged that internal discussions might be ongoing to facilitate a future series, but he also pointed out that continued border skirmishes make it difficult for India to commit to playing in Pakistan.
“I’m pretty certain there will be some back-channel connections going on. But you want to see what’s happening both on the ground and off the ground because there are incursions we hear about. That’s the reason why the Indian government is saying, ‘Look, maybe until all that stops, we should not even look at having or talking about anything’,” he added.
India and Pakistan recently faced off in the Champions Trophy 2025, where the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team secured a comprehensive six-wicket victory. India dominated across all departments, highlighting their superiority in the tournament.
Reports suggest that fans might witness at least three more India-Pakistan clashes in the upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled to take place between the second and fourth week of September 2025. The tournament, which will be played in the T20 format, is expected to feature 19 matches.
Originally allotted to India, the Asia Cup 2025 will now be played in a neutral venue due to the strained India-Pakistan relations. While the final location is yet to be confirmed, Sri Lanka and the UAE are being considered as potential hosts, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) remaining the designated organiser.
Pakistan has been named the official host for the Champions Trophy 2025. However, due to security concerns and India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send its team. As a result, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) decided to shift India’s matches to Dubai.
The DPIIT has launched the Startup Maha Rathi challenge to support Indian startups in achieving their goal of becoming a developed economy by 2047. It offers funding, mentorship, and global market access to startups in 11 sectors. The application process starts on February 26, 2025, and shortlisted startups will present their ideas to a jury panel in March.

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