According to Sunil Gavaskar, India and Pakistan cannot play a bilateral series until their border disputes are resolved. Gavaskar openly expressed his opinions on the delicate subject when appearing on the Pakistani YouTube channel Sports Central.
According to legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar, cricket relations between India and Pakistan can only be restored when there is border peace. India and Pakistan are not playing against each other because of incursions near the Indian border, Gavaskar said on the Pakistani cricket program *Sports Central*.
Since the 2005–06 season, India has not visited Pakistan for a bilateral cricket match. Additionally, since the 2008 Asia Cup, they have not traveled to play Pakistan in any multi-team competitions. In recent years, they have also chosen not to attend the Champions Trophy 2025 and the Asia Cup 2023. In contrast, Pakistan traveled to play in the ODI World Cup 2023 but did not play a bilateral series in India since the 2012–13 season.
The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) decided not to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. The BCCI and PCB agreed to host India’s matches at the Dubai International Stadium after the ICC mediated the agreement. Gavaskar clarified on the show that the two sides may only play cricket if the governments convene and decide that the invasions have stopped, at which point “we can now talk about other things.”
“How can India and Pakistan play a bilateral series when there is, frankly, no calm at the borders? It’s really easy. I believe that both governments will say, “Look, okay, we’ve had no incidents, nothing at all,” if there is peace at the borders. On *Sports Central*, Sunil Gavaskar stated, “So let’s at least start talking.”
“I have a good feeling that some backchannel linkages will occur. However, when we hear about intrusions, you want to see what’s going on both on and off the ground. That’s why the Indian government is saying, ‘Look, maybe we shouldn’t even look at having or talking about anything until all that ends,'” he continued.
There were other complex relationships in the Champions Trophy besides India and Pakistan. Some parts of Australia and England also called for a boycott of Afghanistan. Regarding England and Australia’s decision to not boycott Afghanistan in the competition, Gavaskar was questioned. The renowned batter praised England for playing Afghanistan, saying that in an ICC event, political views and sports should be kept apart.
“It’s fortunate that the England and Wales Cricket Board chose to play, as it’s a different matter entirely what the government chooses among itself. Thus, it was fortunate that they finally showed up to play. And, well, they were defeated. “So perhaps now if someone says, ‘They didn’t want to play against them because they knew they were going to lose to Afghanistan,'” Gavaskar added.
