Sunil Gavaskar not sure if top Indian players would tour Pakistan

Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian cricket team captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that top Indian players won’t be keen on touring Pakistan in the near future. Considering the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus, Gavaskar said players would have apprehensions about touring the neighbouring country for a series.

Pakistan have not hosted an international cricket series on home soil for 6 long years since the terrorist attack on the Lankans in March 2009. However, after a 6-year long spell, Zimbabwe have become the first Test nation to tour the Asian country.

“Whatever the country's Boards may decide, I am sure not many top Indian players would like to go there and play if they are asked today. After what happened in 2009, most players would refuse to tour the country,” said Gavaskar.

The 65-year-old labelled Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan a “baby step” and said that it is good for the young Pakistani players to play in front of their home crowd.

“It will be just a baby step. There are more steps required before it can say that international cricket is back in Pakistan,” he said.

“It is good for the young Pakistanis to see their heroes play in front of their eyes in flesh and blood in the national colours.”

In the shootout that occurred 6 years ago, 12 gunmen opened fire on the bus carrying the Sri Lankan team near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. 6 members of the Lankan team were injured, while 6 policemen and two civilians were killed.