Pahalgam Terror assault: Following the Pahalgam terrorist assault in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead, former India captain Sourav Ganguly has firmly backed the plea to cut off relations with Pakistan.

Speaking bluntly, the former head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) emphasized the urgent need for “strict action.”

Only ICC tournaments, including the T20 and 50 throughout World Cups, the ICC Champions Trophy, and Asia Cup events run by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), have seen India and Pakistan play each other throughout the years.

“This (severing relations with Pakistan) should be done without a doubt. Tough measures are required. The fact that similar incidents occur annually is no laughing matter. “We cannot tolerate terrorism,” Ganguly told ANI.

In a statement earlier on Wednesday, the BCCI praised the victims of the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Mumbai Indians, IPL 2025 match 41, and denounced the “ghastly and cowardly” incident.

As the typically joyous beginning to an IPL game became solemn in remembrance of the victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, players and match officials donned black armbands and conducted a minute’s silence throughout the game.

The cheerleaders and the pyrotechnics were also not visible. The HCA stadium was packed, so there was a lot of noise every time the ball passed the boundary, even though there was no music played in between balls. ‘Let’s all stand for peace and humanity,’ said the sightscreen.

India hasn’t visited Pakistan since 2008, when they played in the Asia Cup, because of the two countries’ tense political ties. The two bitter rivals last engaged in a bilateral series consisting of white-ball matches in India in 2012–2013.

India played all of their matches in Dubai using a hybrid format at the recently held ICC Champions Trophy, avoiding a trip to Pakistan.

Additionally, Jay Shah, the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has chosen to use a hybrid format for all ICC events in the 2024–2027 cycle, which will take place in either India or Pakistan.

The Central government announced a number of diplomatic measures in response to the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. These included closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, giving them 40 hours to return to their country, and lowering the number of officers in the High Commissions on both sides.