In light of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, should India push for Pakistan’s disqualification from ICC events?
What was meant to be a Tuesday afternoon of serenity in the breathtaking meadows of Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, turned into a horrifying bloodbath as terrorists stormed the Baisaran Valley, killing at least 28 innocent people, mainly tourists.
Eyewitness accounts describe a nightmare that no one should have to endure. The terrorists emerged from the pine-covered hills and began targeting people based on their religion. Survivors say they were asked to recite Islamic verses; those who couldn’t were shot at point-blank range.
The truth? This was not random. This was methodical and premeditated, and most importantly, it had Pakistan’s fingerprints all over it.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadowy militant outfit widely believed to be an offshoot of the Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. While the claim is yet to be verified independently, the coordination and execution bear all the hallmarks of Pakistan’s long-standing strategy, weaponising terror as a proxy war against India.
The horror has ignited a firestorm of questions. Not just about security, but about something deeper – why does Pakistan, a nation routinely accused of harbouring terrorists, continue to enjoy the prestige and profit of participating in global sports events?
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Why is Pakistan still playing?
When South Africa was banned from international sports during apartheid, the message was clear—morality matters. The international community stood united in saying that racism had no place in sport. Why then, is the same yardstick not applied to terrorism?
Pakistan has long been under scrutiny for its role in promoting terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has grey-listed the country for its inability to curb terror financing. And yet, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently boasted about raking in nearly 10 billion INR in revenue, including an expected 3 billion INR from the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. That money, critics say, ultimately supports a state machinery that has repeatedly turned a blind eye, or even extended a hand, to terrorism.
“Should sport be used to fund terror?” That’s the question many Indians are asking today. Especially for a country like Pakistan, where cricket holds a deep emotional and cultural significance much like in India, isolating them from the international cricketing arena could be one of the most powerful ways to pressure them into reconsidering their continued support for terrorism. Such a move would strike at the heart of their national pride and global visibility.
With major ICC events coming up, including the Women’s ODI World Cup this September, the Asia Cup in 2026, and the T20 World Cup the same year, keeping Pakistan out of the game would send a powerful and emotional message: that the world will no longer turn a blind eye. It would be a clear reminder that terrorism and sports cannot coexist.
BCCI’s stand
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wasted no time in reaffirming its stance. “We will not play with Pakistan in bilaterals going forward,” said BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, following the Pahalgam attack. “Whatever our government will say, we will do. When it comes to ICC events, we play due to prior commitments, but that too must be re-evaluated.”
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia struck a tone of both mourning and defiance: “The cricketing community is deeply shocked and anguished by the tragic loss of innocent lives. We condemn this ghastly and cowardly act in the strongest possible words. The time for tough conversations has come.”
Even after the Pulwama attack in 2019, which saw 40 CRPF officials being killed by a suicide bomber, the BCCI expressed concerns to the ICC, asking them to take note of the situation and also sever ties with nations that back terror. However, nothing concrete came after the round of discussions.
The call is simple this time now – ban Pakistan from international cricket until it proves, beyond doubt, that it has severed ties with terrorism. Anything less would be hypocrisy wrapped in a jersey. Like former India cricketer Shreevats Goswami aptly put on his X post, “SAY NO TO CRICKET! And this is exactly why I say – you don’t play cricket with Pakistan. Not now. Not ever.” With Jay Shah at the helm, the Indians would surely be waiting for a befitting reply from the ICC to PCB.
Cricket has always been more than just a sport in the subcontinent. It’s passion, identity, and sometimes, even diplomacy. But today, it’s also a test of global conscience. Can the world watch a nation weep and still offer handshakes at the toss?
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Why only leave cricket?
In response to the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, India has taken a series of strong diplomatic and strategic actions against Pakistan. The government suspended the historic Indus Waters Treaty, a critical water-sharing agreement in place since 1960.
It expelled Pakistan’s military attaches and reduced the staff at Islamabad’s High Commission in New Delhi. Pakistani nationals were stripped of SAARC visa exemption privileges and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours. The only operational land crossing between the two countries, the Attari Integrated Check Post, has been closed, halting all cross-border movement.
India also declared the Pakistani defence advisor persona non grata and will withdraw its own defence staff from Islamabad. Visa services for Pakistani nationals have been suspended indefinitely, with all valid visas revoked. Even symbolic events like the daily retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border have been scaled down.
If India can take these concrete steps across diplomacy, travel, trade, and cultural exchange in the name of national security, then why is international cricket with Pakistan still untouched?
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