Either ban playing against Pakistan or resume bilateral ties: Gautam Gambhir

India and Pakistan have been loggerheads with each other for quite a while now and there’s no sign of improvement in their relationship. As far as cricket between the teams is concerned, the Asian Giants only plays each other in ICC tournaments or the Asia Cup. However, they aren’t listed to play any bilateral series in ICC’s Future Tours Programme.

The arch-rivals will next meet in the ongoing Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 19. Moreover, the age-old antagonists also have a chance of meeting for the second time in the multi-nation tournament provided they qualify for the Super 4’s, which doesn’t seem unlikely for the time being.

We are very indecisive about what we need to do

In the meantime, Gautam Gambhir didn’t mince any words in saying that India should either resume playing bilateral series against Pakistan or ban them completely. The Delhi-born cricketer also didn’t hold himself back from saying that there needs to be a clarity in policy surrounding playing Pakistan.

“There should not be a conditional ban. We cannot be playing them only in ICC tournaments and Asia Cups. There should be a clear stand, either we should ban them completely or if we really want to play them then we shouldn’t pick and choose, we should also resume bilateral series. For years we’ve been hanging in mid-air,” Gambhir was quoted as saying in Wah Cricket.

“There’s no clear policy and we are very indecisive about what we need to do when it comes to playing Pakistan. I don’t think we hear about any other country more than Pakistan. We don’t hear about South Africa, Australia or England. So clearly there is a problem and it needs to be sorted before even thinking of playing cricket with Pakistan,” he added.

After the Asia Cup, India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in next year’s Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. Their last bilateral series took place in 2012-13 when the Men in Green toured India for a T20I and an ODI series.

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