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Sunil Gavaskar condemned the terror attacks in Pahalgam ahead of IPL 2025, questioning the perpetrators’ motives and urging for peace.
Sunil Gavaskar is a former India cricketer. (Image: AFP)
The former Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar, went on a heartfelt rant on the perpetrators behind the terror attacks in Pahalgam, which took the lives of multiple individuals in Kashmir, ahead of the Indian Premier League 2025 fixture between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Rajasthan Royals on Thursday.
Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed in Tuesday’s terror attack that triggered widespread outrage within India and abroad.
Gavaskar, who is also a pundit for the IPL, shared his thoughts on the recent attacks. He started off by offering his condolences to those affected and questioned what those behind the tragedy had achieved.
Gavaskar was quoted as saying, per Times of India, “I send my condolences to all the families who have lost their loved and dear ones. It has affected all of us Indians… I just want to ask a question to all the perpetrators, and all those who backed them, their handles – What has all this fighting achieved?”
“For the last 78 years, not one millimetre of land has exchanged hands, is it? So for the next 78.000 years, nothing is going to change. So why don’t we live in peace instead, and make our country strong? So that is my appeal,” he added.
The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia had earlier released a statement condemning those behind the “ghastly” and “cowardly act” while extending condolences to the families of the bereaved.
“The cricketing community is deeply shocked and anguished by the tragic loss of innocent lives in the gruesome terror attack at Pahalgam yesterday. On behalf of the BCCI, while condemning this ghastly and cowardly act with the strongest possible words, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the departed souls. In sharing their pain and grief, we stand hand in hand at this hour of tragedy,” Saikia said in a statement.
The IPL had also decided to do away with fireworks and cheerleaders in Wednesday’s fixture between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Mumbai Indians. Players from both teams had also worn black armbands in tribute to those affected by the tragedy.
Both teams had also observed a minute’s silence, mourning those who had lost their lives in the horrific terrorist attack.
