Srinagar: Team India coach Gautam Gambhir has said that he wants India to have relation with Pakistan in cricket or even in Bollywood.
In a recent interview, Gambhir said that while the ultimate decision rests with the government, his personal belief is that nothing can come close to the lives of Indian citizens.
“Ultimately, this is government’s decision whether we play them or not. I have said this before also, no cricket match or Bollywood or any other interaction is more important than the life of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens. Matches will keep happening, movies will be made, singers will continue to perform, but nothing comes close to losing a loved one in your family.” Indian coach added.
On the question of playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup later in the year and the next T20 World Cup, Gambhir said, “This is not up to me, it’s not in my jurisdiction, this is for BCCI and more importantly, the government to decide whether we should play them or not. Whatever decision they make, we should be absolutely fine with it and not politicise it.”
A few days earlier, another former Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar, had called for Pakistan to be kicked out of the Asia Cup and for a 4 or 5-nation tournament to be held in India in its place.