Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskarhas urged the media to not be critical of the Indian cricket team amid the ongoing debate regarding whether they
should participate in the upcoming Asia Cup or not. There has been a growing sentiment regarding India not participating in the tournament due to ongoing tensions with Pakistan, following the horrific terrorist attacks in Pahalgam, India.
Gavaskar shared that the players will after all go ahead with what the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will direct, which itself will receive orders from the Government of India. The erstwhile captain further went on to mention that the players had nothing to do with the entire situation, due to the government having the final say in matters involving national interest(s).
"If the government has taken a call, I don’t see how the players can be criticised or commented upon, because the players at the end of the day are contracted to the BCCI and they will be taking the instructions from the Government of India. And so, it entirely depends on that,” stated Gavaskar, as quoted by India Today.
“The players are helpless in this. They’ve been selected to play in the Asia Cup, and if the government says you have to play, then they will go out and play. If the government says you don’t, then the BCCI will act accordingly. Like I said, it is entirely up to the Government of India to tell the BCCI what to do,” he remarked.
The 76-year-old shared his thoughts on the 15-member squad, which was announced at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai in a meeting by All India Men's Senior Selection Committee chief Ajit Agarkar on August 19. Captain Suryakumar Yadav, selector Shiv Sunder Das, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia were also among those present in the meeting for the squad, which also includes the likes of Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya.
“This is a fabulous squad. It has depth in batting, variety in the left and right-hand combinations, and terrific balance in bowling as well. It’s a fantastic team,” concluded Gavaskar.
The backlash in relation to the two nations being involved in world events had grown significantly after the cross-border tensions following the recent horrific terrorist attacks in Pahalgam. The last time India and Pakistan met in a bilateral series was way back across December 2012 and January 2013.
