Why Not Beat Pakistan And Ensure They Don't Progress to the Semifinal - Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian National Cricket team skipper Sunil Gavaskar feels it will be wise for India to beat Pakistan in the ICC World Cup and ensure that they don’t qualify for the semifinals of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the recent Pulwama Terror attack has created a stir countrywide as a Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) rammed an explosives-laden car into a CRPF bus, killing at least 40 personnel and leaving many critically wounded. On the back of it, India have cut several ties with the neighbouring country. Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has called for a boycott of Pakistan match to show their protest. On the other hand, Chetan Chauhan wants India to put pressure on ICC threatening to boycott the whole event.

However, Sunil Gavaskar believes they will do justice if they beat Pakistan and stop them from progressing. He also feels India alone can’t debar Pakistan from taking part in the World Cup because no other nations will support them. The legendary cricketer feels the United Nations is the perfect place to raise this issue.

“They can try but it will not happen. It will not happen because the other member countries have to accept that. I can’t see other member countries accepting that. India can go ahead and try to do that [stop Pakistan playing the World Cup],” Gavaskar told India Today.

“The right forum is at the United Nations. I am not too sure the International Cricket Conference is the right forum to bring this up. We are all down with the tragedy. I am not too sure it will work because the other countries might say it’s an internal issue between two countries so please don’t involve us,” he added.

Also, Sunil Gavaskar feels not playing Pakistan will hurt their cause as they will lose two crucial points while Pakistan will get those points.

“Politics was never away from the sport. I am not talking about direct politics. I am with the country. Whatever the country decides, whatever the government decides, I am totally behind it. Not playing them will hurt us, because it’s a World Cup. We lose two points, Pakistan will get those two points,” he concluded.