Show you are serious about building a ‘naya’ Pakistan else lose goodwill in India forever: Gavaskar to Imran Khan
While cricketers like Harbhajan Singh, Sourav Ganguly and Mohammad Azharuddin said that India should boycott playing Pakistan during World Cup 2019 in the wake of Pulwama terror attack, Sunil Gavaskar has a totally different stand on the issue.
Gavaskar believes that instead of snubbing the match against Pakistan, India should play and defeat them. “Pushing for boycotting Pakistan in the World Cup won’t work, other countries won’t agree. And if we don’t play them in the WC, we are the losers. Play them and defeat them is the best way,” Gavaskar told India Today in an exclusive interview.
“Who wins if India decide against playing Pakistan in the World Cup? And I am not even talking about the semis and the finals. Who wins? Pakistan win because they get two points,” Gavaskar said. “India have so far beaten Pakistan every time in a World Cup, so we are actually conceding two points when by beating Pakistan, we could make sure that they don’t advance in the competition. (But) I am with the country, whatever the government decides, I am with it totally. If the country wants we shouldn’t play Pakistan, I am with them,” he added.
Also read: India vs Pakistan World Cup 2019: Azhar, Ganguly back Harbhajan on ‘boycott Pakistan game’ stance
“Where does it hurt Pakistan? It hurts them when they don’t play a bilateral series against India. In a multi-team event, India will lose by not playing them. The entire matter needs to be looked at with a little more depth, I can understand emotions are running high. But what happens when you don’t play them? I know India are strong enough side to qualify even after conceding those two points but why not beat them and make sure they don’t qualify,” argued Gavaskar.
Gavaskar also said that former cricketer and current Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has a nice opportunity to show the world that it’s a new Pakistan under his government. “Imran Khan needs to take the first step to show friendship, only then India can respond, he needs to show us that this is a ‘naya’ Pakistan he promised, ball is in his court,” he added.
Also read: What will happen if India refuses to play Pakistan at 2019 World Cup? 3 possible scenarios
Gavaskar also said that Imran Khan should handover Masood Azhar, who is the chief of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) which is responsible for the Pulwama terror attack, to India or UN. “I am telling my friend Imran Khan today, act against terror in your country, hand over Masood Azhar to us or the UN, show you are serious about building a ‘naya’ Pakistan else lose goodwill in India forever,” he added.
If the BCCI takes the matter to the ICC, as is being speculated, and seeks Pakistan’s ouster from event starting May 30 in England, it is more likely to lose, he said. “They can try but it will not happen. Because the other member countries have to accept that and I don’t see that happening. I am not too sure an ICC conference is the right forum,” he said referring to the February 27 to March 2 ICC meetings in Dubai.
“Sure all of us are absolutely down with what has happened, it is such a tragedy but I am not too sure this would work with the ICC. The other counties will say that this is an internal matter between the two countries and they have to deal with it and not involve us,” he said.
With PTI inputs