Sunil Gavaskar launches brutal verbal attack on Najam Sethi amid T20 World Cup row

India vs Pakistan 2026 T20 World Cup match still hangs on thread, after the Pakistan government did not give the green signal to play the match against their arch-rivals. Former cricketers and other administrative people have shared their expert views on the following rift. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar also shared his views on the ongoing fiasco between the two nations.

After the ex-Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi’s comments on Pakistan being ‘bullied’ by India, Sunil Gavaskar exposed Pakistan’s double standards, mentioning that India has always made the first move and that the country used to invite Pakistani actors and singers to perform in India. He dismissed all the rumours that had been circulated by the former PCB chief.

Sunil Gavaskar slams ex-PCB chief

In a recent interview with India Today, he was asked to comment on the ongoing rift between the two cricketing giants. He shared his views stating, "But ask me na, the question is we are never asked, nobody from India has ever asked, that is the point I was making is that you know Pakistan wants always India to invite but we have never heard.

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"I am talking even before the relations got to the state that they are in today, there was hardly anything, how many of our singers, how many of our you know maybe film stars are invited to act in Pakistani films or even before, before like I said before relations."

"It is always we who are making that first move, we are the ones who are always you know reaching out, so that is the only thing that I was saying, when we talked about this bullying and stuff like that, that was going on, we are not, we are not bullying anybody, we are just minding our own business."

India always made the first move

While shedding light on he brought up the Indian Premier League (IPL) matter where Pakistani cricketers were allowed to play in the inaugural edition of the league. However, after the Mumbai 26/11 attack, they were banned from playing league. The 1983 World Cup winner stated that earlier India always made the first move, but the same cannot be said of their arch-rivals.

Sunil Gavaskar said, "We have already. We started in 2008. We did have the Pakistanis playing in the IPL. I think just about every franchise has had a Pakistani player. I think we also had Pakistani commentators during the IPL."

'I think bullying is a very easy word to use'- Sunil Gavaskar

He further shed light after being asked to share his views on the ‘bullying’ comments made by the ex-chair of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Sunil Gavaskar said, "No, we are not. Give me examples. It is the easiest thing to say that we are bullying. Everything is out there before the first ball of the tournament is bowled."

"Before the Champions Trophy, India had clearly said that they wouldn't go to Pakistan so all their matches were played in Dubai. That was known long before the tournament started."

Sunil Gavaskar concluded saying, "I don't see where bullying comes in. I think bullying is a very easy word to use to look at making excuses for yourself; I don't see where it comes from. If that's the case then stand up to the bully, the best answer is always to stand up to the bully."

The India vs Pakistan match is scheduled on 15th February 2026, at the R Premedasa Stadium, Colombo. If the match does not happens Pakistan might have to face serious sanctions from the loss that will be incurred by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the broadcasters from India as well.

Also Read: Mohammad Amir questions Babar Azam's place before T20 World Cup 2026