Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin has called on India to completely cut its cricket tie with Pakistan after a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed several innocent lives. Azharuddin said that India should not only continue to refuse to play a bilateral series with Pakistan, but also withdraw from Pakistan in the ICC and ACC Championships.
Azharuddin described the Pahalgam incident as “very, very sad”, highlighting the emotional damage caused to the country by the attack. “Cricket is a sport of unity, but it cannot be played in the shadow of such a tragedy,” he said.
Azharuddin, who admitted that a moratorium on the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) would be unrealistic, praised the Indian Cricket Council for its respect for its victims. He noted that players wearing black armbands during the game were the “good part” of showing solidarity with a sad family.
Azharuddin made these remarks while serving as chief guest at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, where he unveiled the new orthopedic, spinal and joint nursing departments.
The former captain’s comments add to the ongoing debate about the intersection of sports and geopolitics. His firm stance reflects an increasingly intense sentiment that national security and citizen emotions must be prioritized over physical exercise. As tensions between India and Pakistan remain high, Azaruddin’s call could spark further discussions about the future of cricket diplomacy between the two countries.
