- 13 hours ago
Sunil Gavaskar hit back at Pakistan's claims of calling the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) bullies in the whole T20 World Cup controversy, with the nation opting to boycott their game against India. In the T20 World Cup roundtable hosted by Rajdeep Sardesai, Gavaskar said that the decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament was one taken by a vote where 14 teams were for the move, while 2 other member nations were against it altogether.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Big week for Indian Cricket
00:06Vaibhav Suryvanshi on fire
00:13175 from 80 balls
00:2115 sixes and 15 boundaries
00:25India win under 19 World Cup in style
00:30Next target T20 World Cup
00:38But this World Cup is under shadow of politics
00:47Bangladesh opts out
00:54Pakistan to boycott India tie
01:01India form favourites to win the cup
01:07T20 World Cup Round Table
01:11Hello and welcome once again to the round table this week
01:18This week we will talk cricket
01:21But we will also talk a bit of politics
01:23Because with the World T20 kicking off this weekend
01:27Cricket and politics have converged like never before
01:30Bangladesh has opted out of the World Cup after refusing to play in India
01:35Pakistan has said it won't play against India in support of Bangladesh
01:40India of course are the superpower of world cricket
01:43And unarguably the favourites to win the T20 World Cup once again
01:48And retain the crown they won two years ago
01:51All of this has left a lot of questions unanswered
01:54Today on the round table we are very privileged first to be joined by some very special guests
01:59Joining us now is the one and only one of the legends of Indian cricket
02:03Sunil Gavaskar joins us
02:06I am also joined by Madan Lal World Cup Winner 1983
02:10Atul Wasan joins us former India player
02:13And I am also joined from Pakistan by Farishte Alam
02:16She is of course a journalist who tracks sport in Pakistan and cricket
02:21Appreciate Farishte you joining us from there
02:24I am going to put some big questions to you all
02:27And I want you all to sort of give your views on those big questions
02:32The big questions are quite simply this
02:35Bangladesh pull out and no India-Pakistan match
02:38Is this an embarrassment for India's host?
02:41That's the first question
02:42The second question that I want to pose
02:44Can we really keep politics out of sport?
02:46Is that really possible?
02:48The third question that we will raise on the round table
02:51Are India firm favourites to win the cup?
02:53And yes, once the cricket begins
02:55Will the politics be forgotten?
02:57Mr Gavaskar, why don't you start first?
02:59Do you believe that in some way
03:01What's happened over the last couple of weeks
03:03Has shadowed this World Cup?
03:05Or once the cricket starts
03:06The politics is automatically forgotten?
03:08Well definitely I think
03:10You know when you have these controversies
03:13Just before the first ball is bowled
03:14They will dominate the headlines
03:16No question about it
03:17But again, once the first ball is bowled
03:20Then the concentration will definitely be on
03:22What is happening
03:24Because each team, its followers
03:26Will be looking at what's happening
03:28Willing their teams to get on to the next game
03:30So clearly I think
03:32Yes, for the next maybe 24 hours or so
03:34There will still be talk about
03:36What has happened off the field
03:38But come Saturday
03:40I think the focus will be on cricket
03:42Are you surprised though
03:44By all that has happened?
03:45I know you've seen over the years
03:46The ups and downs
03:47Including the India-Pakistan relationship
03:50Over the years
03:51Are you surprised?
03:52Do you believe there's an inevitability
03:55That given the kind of political environment
03:58Sports will get tangled in it?
04:00I'm surprised because
04:03Because Pakistan had made it clear
04:06That they do not want to play in India
04:08And that is the reason why all their matches
04:10Were scheduled in Sri Lanka
04:12And therefore for them to now say
04:14That they are not playing against India
04:16Is a surprise
04:18They haven't given a reason why
04:20They don't want to play in India
04:22We're all assuming that it's in support of
04:24Bangladesh
04:26Bangladesh not being allowed
04:28To participate in the tournament
04:32So we're just assuming it
04:34You know, that's a presumption
04:35That we shouldn't really be having
04:36We should wait for an official statement
04:38From the Pakistan cricket board
04:40About whether that is really the case
04:43But otherwise there is no reason
04:45For Pakistan not to play India
04:47While they are going to play other countries
04:49In Sri Lanka
04:51Because there is no security issue over there
04:53So clearly I think
04:55We just need to wait for
04:57Pakistan cricket board to give
04:59Reason why they have been told
05:01By their government not to play
05:03Atul Vasar, I saw you came out
05:05Very strongly saying
05:06Look, we've got to draw a line with Pakistan
05:08You can't just before a world cup
05:10Decide you're not coming
05:11And playing against India
05:12When a hybrid model has been organized
05:14For you to go and play in Sri Lanka
05:16What is the reason you believe
05:18Pakistan is taking a stand
05:20And do you believe that
05:21Sanction should be imposed
05:22Against Pakistan for it?
05:24I said before like hell hath no fury
05:26As a woman's gone
05:27So they are just trying to find
05:28Any given reason just to spite India
05:31And the confusion is that
05:33If they have got a problem with ICC
05:35Then they should not be playing
05:37Deciding to not play against India
05:39You know, so they feel I think
05:41Everybody knows that they feel BCC and ICC
05:43Is the same
05:44Which is the wrong narrative actually
05:46Because there is a voting system
05:47And they don't have any support
05:49So just to get to this point
05:51And just keep everybody on tender rocks
05:53And just to support Bangladesh
05:54And just find a reason
05:56Is I think pure madness
05:57Because they know
05:58They can't afford the damages
06:00The cricket is suffering anyway
06:02They have not recovered since
06:03Shalankan players got attacked in Pakistan
06:05The cricket has gone down
06:06And if this goes down
06:07I think Pakistan is helping India's cause
06:09Because whenever we play Pakistan
06:11There is a lot of backlash in India also
06:13And we don't want to play them in bilateral
06:16Because the problem is that
06:17Because they
06:18We are just a necessary evil
06:20But now if the whole world
06:21Would you penalize them?
06:22Would you penalize them if they don't play?
06:23Of course, of course
06:24I think they are playing to the hands
06:25Where we want them to be ostracized
06:27By the whole cricketing world
06:28And I think then everybody will be happy
06:30Because their entities are not winning
06:32So I don't know why
06:33They are just playing this hard world
06:34So you are saying Pakistan should be ostracized
06:36But I want to bring in Farishte
06:37Who now can hear us
06:39Lines between India and Pakistan
06:41And Pakistan get often disconnected in this day and age
06:44What is the real reason, Farishte
06:46That Pakistan doesn't want to play against India and Colombo?
06:51I think one short word, Rajee
06:54It's called bullying
06:56The bullying that has gone on forever and ever
06:59First at the national level
07:03Between the two countries
07:05Then via ICC
07:07And I think it's possible
07:10Enough is enough
07:12And somebody up there
07:14No, no, no, no, be specific
07:15When you say bullying
07:16What does it mean?
07:17That the Indian team didn't shake hands with the Pakistanis
07:19During the Asia Cup
07:21The fact that the Pakistanis claim India has double standards
07:24That you keep Bangladesh out of the World Cup
07:28By not allowing them to play in Sri Lanka
07:30That India could play in Dubai during the Champions
07:32So what is this bullying?
07:33Is it the fact that ICC is dominated by India
07:36That troubles Pakistan?
07:37All of that
07:38Rajee, all of that
07:40Not the fact that it has to be another place to leave for every team
07:45And that is clearly not in the case for so many years
07:49And
07:50But it was Pakistan that had agreed to play in Sri Lanka
07:53Farishte Pakistan had agreed to play in Sri Lanka
07:55So what suddenly changed?
07:57Subsequently
08:00I don't know what changed
08:02I don't know what got into their mind
08:05But subsequently I think a decision was taken
08:08That we have to stop being
08:10The person who's put in the corner
08:13Or the team that's put in the corner here
08:15We have to stand up and say
08:17We're not going to take this
08:19And that's what they did
08:22It's like a team building up
08:24They had to take the lid off
08:26And now everybody's in it
08:29Let's use that word
08:30A word has been used
08:31Bully
08:32Are we the bullies, Sunil Gavaskar, of world cricket?
08:34Yes, we are the superpowers
08:36The revenues come here
08:37Maximum revenues come from India
08:39That's how the game has changed
08:41But have we become bullies?
08:42Have we not understood the kind of soft power we are?
08:45Are we misusing it?
08:46No, we are not
08:48I mean, give me examples of bullying
08:50I mean, it's the easiest thing to say
08:53That we are bullying
08:54But everything is out there
08:56Before the first ball of the tournament is bowled
08:59If you're talking about the Champions Trophy
09:01Where India had from the beginning said
09:04That they will not go to Pakistan
09:07And so all their matches were held in Dubai
09:10But that was known even before
09:12Long before the tournament even started
09:15So clearly there is no bullying over there
09:17India made it stand clear
09:19And if the ICC had at that state said
09:22Nothing doing
09:24Maybe India would not have participated in the tournament
09:27I don't know
09:28It never came to that
09:30It's a hypothetical situation
09:31So I don't see where the bullying comes in
09:33I think it's an easy word to use
09:36To look at making excuses for yourself
09:40That you are being bullied
09:42Okay, then stand up to the bully
09:44The best answer is always stand up to the bully
09:46Show that you know
09:47How do you do that?
09:48You see, the thing is
09:50I just read or heard Nasir Hussain
09:53The former England captain
09:54Actually coming out in support of Bangladesh in particular
09:57Saying Bangladesh should have been given an option
09:59To perhaps play in Sri Lanka
10:02Saying that removing Mustafizur
10:04By a private franchise like KKR
10:06Under pressure was the wrong step to take
10:09And that there are double standards
10:10That's what Nasir Hussain is suggesting
10:12Your view
10:13Do you believe Nasir Hussain is right
10:14To say that ICC is practicing double standards
10:17That they should have allowed Bangladesh to play in Sri Lanka?
10:23It was a 14 by 2 decision
10:26Yes
10:27It wasn't a decision taken by the BCCI
10:30It was a decision to which Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand
10:34Everybody was a party
10:36So, you know, to say what double standards are there?
10:42What double standards are there?
10:44That, you know, the whole idea is
10:47Just because there is an ICC chairman who is an Indian
10:50An ICC CEO who is an Indian
10:52They are not taking these calls
10:54There was a meeting
10:5614, 16 people sat there
10:58Maybe there was a virtual
10:59Some of the guys might have been on a Zoom call
11:01And they had to put their hands up
11:03Yes, no
11:04Two people put their hands up, no
11:06That whether Bangladesh should be allowed, you know?
11:09So, it was not…
11:10India wasn't bullying those other 14 members
11:12No chance
11:13No chance
11:14No chance
11:15It's the easiest excuse to give
11:17You know, when things don't go your way
11:20The easiest excuse to give is
11:22India is bullying, India is putting pressure
11:24Well, you people stand up to it, no?
11:26Now, how do you stand up because…
11:27You guys are…
11:28No, you're independent
11:29You're independent
11:30You are…
11:31You are an independent, you know, body
11:34ECB, Cricket Australia, Cricket South Africa
11:37You're all independent bodies
11:39You…
11:40Why do you have to do what VCCI says?
11:42Oh, so, so…
11:43You see, but that's exactly what now…
11:44You see, Nasir Hussain seems to suggest
11:46What if India one month before a major tournament said
11:49We want to play in a third country
11:50The ICC, according to him
11:52Would have accepted India's conditions
11:54You don't agree with that
11:55Right?
11:56Mr. Gavaskar, you don't agree that
11:57ICC would have made a special case for India
12:00That's what Nasir Hussain claims
12:02It's hypothetical, we don't know
12:04It's hypothetical
12:05You know, the reason is that
12:07Bangladesh came out and saying that
12:09There's a security concerns in India
12:11Just because one place was taken out from a private franchise
12:14But wasn't that the wrong thing to do?
12:15The point is
12:16They've stood up in their own way
12:18Bangladesh has said, okay
12:19We will forsake this tournament
12:21We will stand up for our self-respect
12:23Pakistan is a strange…
12:25We still don't know why they're doing it
12:27But when you say, Mr. Gavaskar
12:29That if these countries feel so strongly
12:31They should stand up, what does that mean?
12:32Opt out like Bangladesh and not play the World Cup?
12:35What does that mean exactly when you say…
12:37What it means…
12:38What it means is very simply
12:40That when that issue came up for discussion
12:42Yes
12:43Whether Bangladesh should be allowed to play in Sri Lanka
12:45All of them should have stood up and said
12:47Yes, they should be allowed to play in Sri Lanka
12:48All the other countries
12:49Yes
12:50The other…
12:51They didn't
12:52They just…
12:53They said, no
12:54We don't need to change
12:56Because look…
12:57By changing that
12:58You were asking for the whole draw to be changed
13:00Yes
13:01So you were asking for…
13:02The whole draw to be changed
13:04And…
13:05And…
13:06Which meant that no other teams
13:07Who were to play Bangladesh in…
13:09In India
13:10Would all…
13:11All have to go and play in…
13:13In Sri Lanka
13:14And it would set a dangerous precedent for the future
13:16Correct…
13:17And that is the reason
13:18I think the other boards also
13:20Said that no, Bangladesh will not be allowed
13:22Now, Bangladesh
13:24To their credit
13:25Have accepted it gracefully
13:27And that is…
13:28You know, I mean
13:29They've accepted in…
13:30In sporting spirit
13:31If one might use the word
13:32They've accepted the ICC decision
13:34In a sporting manner
13:35Fine
13:36You don't agree with us
13:38But…
13:39So therefore we will not play
13:40Let somebody else come in
13:41So we have to…
13:42We have to…
13:43I mean
13:44I would…
13:45You know, say
13:46Well done to Bangladesh
13:47For standing by their…
13:48By their decision
13:49But for another country
13:50If that's what we are being told
13:51Another country to come in and say
13:52Because this happened
13:53We are not going to play
13:54That is…
13:55You know, that is this thing
13:56Your other teams are playing
13:57Your under-19 teams are playing India
13:58Under-19 teams
13:59Your women's team is going to play
14:01The Indian women's team
14:03In an emerging country
14:04This thing on the…
14:05Yes
14:06On the same day, 15th of February
14:07So what are you talking about?
14:08I…
14:09I'll…
14:10I'll bring my studio gifts in a moment
14:11Final word from you, Farishteh
14:12Since you've got to…
14:13I…
14:14I want to understand from you
14:15How does the public in Bangladesh
14:16In Pakistan view this?
14:18Are they supporting this decision?
14:19Not to play with India?
14:20This was always the big match
14:22I mean
14:23Imran Khan versus Gawaskar
14:25Is what
14:26My generation lived for
14:28Wasim Akram versus Tendulkar
14:30Yes, absolutely
14:31Absolutely
14:32You're right there
14:33But I think
14:34The Pakistan public
14:35As of today
14:37Is quite supportive
14:38Of the cricket ball's decision
14:40Everyone I've spoken to
14:42From the man on the street
14:44To the man and men and women in office
14:47Have said that
14:48You know
14:49It's about time
14:51Pakistan put its foot down
14:53Then man is put down on what?
14:55You know but why?
14:56I mean what?
14:57Put it foot down, why?
14:59Because we didn't shake hands with the players
15:01Because the external environment is…
15:03Rajdeep, that is all part of it
15:05The thing that rankles as well
15:08Is that willy-nilly
15:09Pakistan and India
15:10Are always, always, always
15:12Placed in the same group
15:14So that one big match has to happen
15:17Why does it have to happen?
15:18That doesn't happen in any other sport in the world
15:21That's one form of bullying
15:23That the BCCI and ICC have it their own way
15:27Because they won that one big match
15:30Look at any sport
15:32Give me any example
15:33From any sport in the world
15:35And you will know that this is
15:37This is not quite kosher, Rajdeep
15:39So it's things like that
15:41It's not allowing players
15:43To play in franchise matches
15:45All these things
15:47It builds up
15:48And there comes a point
15:50Where you say
15:51We will not take this
15:53I just want to…
15:54Yes
15:55I just want to interrupt over there
15:57And ask
15:58What happens in the PSL?
16:01I think you are worried about
16:03Pakistan players
16:04Not being allowed to play the IPL
16:06How many Indians are anyway
16:09Allowed to be anywhere near PSL?
16:11Not just the players
16:13Commentators, anything
16:14Nobody
16:15Nobody's there
16:16So it is always India
16:18Who is looking to have somebody
16:20Pakistan is always looking for their players
16:22Or their commentators
16:24Or everybody to be in India
16:26But Indians cannot be there in Pakistan
16:29So what are we talking about here?
16:30Will the BCCI allow that, Mr. Gavaskar?
16:32Will the BCCI allow?
16:33No, no, players they might not allow
16:35Right
16:36Current players who are contracted
16:37They might not allow
16:38But there are players
16:39Who might have just finished
16:40And who might…
16:41Who will still be good enough
16:42I mean if you have a fact to play see
16:44Retired players who are playing for…
16:46Playing in the PSL
16:47Surely there are a lot of Indian players
16:49Who could be approached
16:50Have they been approached?
16:51You have never approached him
16:52Farish has been sent from the two heads
16:53Farish has been sent from the two heads
16:54Farish has been sent from the two heads
16:55Have any commentators been approached?
16:56I would love for
16:57No
16:58So this business…
16:59No, I would love for Tani to come and commentate again in Pakistan
17:02But the fact of the matter is that India being the bigger…
17:07Bigger neighbor has to first reciprocate an arrangement like that
17:12And see how fast the doors open
17:15Okay, so you are saying India has to take the first move
17:19And then Pakistan will reciprocate
17:22But I…
17:23Why?
17:24Why?
17:25Why?
17:26Why does India always have to take the first… make the first move?
17:28She says the bigger neighbor
17:29Indian…
17:30Indian Premier League…
17:31Pakistani players were there for the first two years
17:33Yes
17:34Right?
17:35Yes
17:36It's only after what happened in 2008 in Mumbai
17:37Yes
17:38That you know…
17:39The Pakistani players were not allowed
17:40And after that…
17:41That has not happened
17:42Yes
17:43That you tell me what has happened…
17:44After…
17:45After PSL came
17:46How many Indian players…
17:47You know…
17:48Just retired players
17:50Okay, current players, contracted players would…
17:52Would not be allowed to go
17:53Maybe, fair enough
17:54But who…
17:55Who have they…
17:56Who have been approached?
17:57Would a Yuvraj Singh be approached?
17:59Yuvraj is still playing
18:00Would a Suresh Raina be approached?
18:02Suresh Raina is still playing
18:04Would a Shikhar Dhawan be approached to play PSL?
18:06They have not been approached
18:08So let's not have this business of saying that
18:11Yeah…
18:12Only India should be approaching
18:13You know…
18:14For commentators and everything
18:15I do not think that is the correct way
18:17Okay
18:18It has to be from both sides
18:19It should not be that only India should make the first move
18:22You know…
18:23Farishtay…
18:24You got to get the…
18:25Your contacts in the PCB to say
18:26Approach Yuvraj Singh
18:27We'll see the reaction in India if Yuvraj agrees
18:29My worry is no Indian player in this atmosphere would even agree
18:32That's not…
18:33That's another matter
18:34Yeah…
18:35That's another matter
18:36But at least come and see
18:37Then we'll know
18:38Okay
18:39You're saying
18:40Why doesn't Pakistan for example invite our commentators or cricketers
18:44Ex cricketers to play in the PSL
18:46They could turn around and say
18:47Why don't you invite our cricketers to play the IPL or commentate in India
18:51And if anyone does
18:53Take the invitation they'll be dubbed anti-national
18:56So how do you resolve that?
18:58Should we also be inviting then Pakistani commentators to commentate IPL or play in the IPL?
19:03Well we have already
19:04We started…
19:05In 2008 we did have the Pakistanis playing in the IPL
19:10I think just about every franchise had a Pakistani player
19:13I think we also had Pakistani commentators during the IPL
19:18But today…
19:19With due regard
19:20If today anyone is invited or you are asked to come to Pakistan and you agree you'll be
19:24dubbed anti-national
19:25But…
19:26This competitive jingoism doesn't it trouble you?
19:28But ask me na…
19:29The question is we are never asked
19:31Nobody from India has ever asked
19:33Would you go…
19:34That is the point I was making
19:35Is that you know Pakistan wants always India to invite but we've never heard…
19:40I'm talking even before this the relations got you know got to the state that they are in today
19:47There was hardly anything
19:49How many of our singers how many of our you know maybe film stars are invited to act in Pakistani films
19:59Or even before…
20:00Before like I said before relations
20:02They'll be called anti-national sir
20:03No no no no before
20:04Before it got…
20:05Before it got to the stage that we are in
20:07Today yes today everybody I mean today you would be called
20:11But before that it's never happened
20:13It's always we who are making that first move
20:16We are the ones who are always you know reaching out
20:19So that is the only thing that I was saying
20:21You know when we talked about this bullying and stuff like that that was going on
20:24We are not…
20:25We are not bullying anybody
20:26We are just minding our own business
20:28I want to at this moment turn to something
20:30And Madhan Lalji I want to come to you on this
20:32The not shaking hands
20:33You are an old style Krikenda Madhan Lalji
20:35One of our you know I will never forget what you did in that 83 World Cup Final
20:40But do you believe you should shake hands before after the game or do you support
20:44Because that also led to a lot of bad blood
20:47I think Rajdeep Indian team should have handshake the Pakistani
20:53You think so?
20:54I think so
20:55You know it's a sports you know
20:56You know it's a sports you know
20:57So you go and put it in your hands
20:58With your winning
20:59With your winning
21:00With your winning
21:01With your winning
21:02I have seen that for the last 5-6 years
21:07When you start the game
21:08When you start the game
21:09Politics starts
21:10And you see it
21:12Pakistan
21:13Pakistan
21:14We want to take a lower
21:15This is because of Bangladesh
21:16They have taken such a big decision
21:20Which they need to play the match
21:22How do you grow your cricket
21:24How do you grow your cricket
21:25You can grow your cricket
21:26If you take a decision
21:27You will take a small decision
21:28You will take a small decision
21:29You will take a small decision
21:30You will take a small decision
21:31You will take a small decision
21:32You will take a small decision
21:33But you think
21:34Mustafizur
21:35To target this
21:36That was wrong
21:37That was all
21:38That was all
21:39That was all
21:40A good player
21:41Who will take a good player
21:42Who will take a good player
21:43He will not take a good player
21:44But then he will take a good player
21:45And then Bangladesh
21:46Then Pakistan
21:47Where does it all start?
21:49My problem is
21:50All of this
21:51You know
21:52One thing leads to the other
21:53Who will say
21:54Just now
21:55Just
21:56As you rightly said
21:57Pakistan should be playing
21:58For Pakistan's cricket growth
22:00Farishte
22:01What about the players?
22:02You say
22:03The public doesn't want to play
22:04Do the players want to play or not?
22:06Hundred percent
22:07Hundred percent
22:08The players want to play
22:09Does anybody talk to the players
22:10And ask them?
22:11It's not as if they have a say in this
22:15You see
22:17That's
22:18That's part of the problem
22:19The players have no say
22:20You see
22:21Atul Vasan
22:22What about the players themselves?
22:23If I am a player
22:24Young Pakistani player
22:25I want to play against India
22:26If I score runs against India
22:27I will become an overnight hero
22:29That
22:30Entire concept
22:31Is also being snatched away
22:32From the players
22:33I mean
22:34Surely
22:35The players should have a say
22:36In this sport or not?
22:37You are right actually
22:38I think
22:39Ever since we have stopped
22:40Playing cricket with Pakistan
22:42You know
22:43In
22:44Bilateral series
22:45The quality of cricket
22:46In Pakistan
22:47Cricketers also has gone down
22:48I think they are suffering
22:49Because you are right
22:50That used to egg them on
22:51And then anybody
22:52Used to go
22:53Play above themselves
22:54And you know
22:55Try to perform against India
22:56But I think nobody listens to them
22:57They don't have any mandate
22:58So I think this question to us
22:59Then what the players want us to do
23:01Is wasteful
23:02And I think what happens in Pakistan
23:04And what is
23:05In that regard
23:06Nobody is missing much
23:07Even if you don't go to PSL
23:09But the point is that
23:10The issue is that
23:11Why is the Pakistan
23:12What happens if they
23:13Progress to eliminators
23:15And further they have to play India again
23:16So they have to make their position clear now
23:18Okay
23:19And I think ICC is also
23:20Bollycoddling them
23:21After their threat
23:22Because they could have taken out
23:23Pakistan the same day
23:24And brought back Bangladesh
23:25That would have been interesting
23:26Because you see
23:27Interestingly Pakistan has not officially
23:28Officially yet
23:29Issued a statement
23:30That we are boycotting
23:31It's at the moment
23:32No statement
23:33Will there be an official statement
23:34Farishti or not
23:35They are trying to delay it
23:36If Pakistan in a way
23:38Playing the politics of brinkmanship
23:40Last moment they will decide
23:41Why hasn't Pakistan Farishti issued a statement yet?
23:46Official statement
23:47Rajdeep
23:48I am not a spokesperson for the PCB
23:50Nor am I connected to Pakistan cricket that closely at all
23:56To make an official decision on that
23:58But so many things have changed Rajdeep
24:00Yes
24:01I remember a time when I was covering cricket
24:03And of course there was always brickmanship
24:05And a little bit of bad blood in the public
24:09When India didn't want to tour
24:12And I remember Jagmohan Dalmiya and Bindra
24:15And officials of the BCCI
24:16Telling the Indian government
24:18That well as chairman of BCCI
24:21I want to play Pakistan
24:23If you don't want to as the government
24:25You make the statement
24:26Now tell me
24:27Will that something like that
24:29Ever happen in today's India?
24:31Well you see
24:32So a lot of things change
24:34I take your point
24:35A lot has changed
24:36Can I just for a moment
24:37Switch from there
24:38To what will give us joy
24:40Which is the cricket itself
24:41I have just five minutes
24:42And I want to ask all of you
24:43Starting with you Mr. Gavaskar
24:45Would I be right in saying
24:46That this Indian team
24:48Has an aura
24:49Much like the West Indians
24:51When it came to 50 overs
24:53And test cricket in the late 70s
24:54Early 80s
24:55Or the Australians in the early 2000s
24:57Or in T20 cricket
24:59No team has aura
25:00Because every team has power hitters
25:02How do you see it?
25:03Are we firm favourites?
25:04We are favourites
25:06Because of the way
25:07Kind of cricket
25:08That the Indian T20 team
25:10Has been playing over the last
25:11Several months
25:13Also I think
25:14Looking at the form
25:15Of the other teams
25:16Pakistan now beat Australia
25:18Quite comfortably
25:19In the T20 matches
25:20Just now in Pakistan
25:21That's right
25:22The Australian team
25:23Without Cummins
25:24And with Hazelwood
25:25Not being 100%
25:26Smith not being in the team
25:27Doesn't quite look
25:29Like the world beaters
25:30You know
25:31Of yore
25:33And if you see
25:34The one team
25:35That really looks very good
25:36Is the England team
25:37And England team
25:38England won just two years
25:39Two additions back
25:40England
25:41England won the T20 World Cup
25:43So they are actually
25:44The most dangerous team
25:46Along with South Africa
25:48So I think
25:49These are the teams
25:50That India will be looking
25:51A little bit
25:52You know
25:53Worried about
25:54Or concerned about
25:55But otherwise
25:56These are your top four then
25:57India
25:58England
25:59South Africa
26:00South Africa
26:01And New Zealand
26:02New Zealand
26:03Yep
26:04And any dark horse
26:05That you see
26:06Your good old friends
26:07From the West Indies
26:08Not quite what they were
26:09But they have power hitters
26:10Well the dark horses
26:11Obviously would be
26:12Australia
26:13And
26:14And Sri Lanka
26:15Interesting
26:16Interesting
26:17Madanlalji
26:18Your favorite
26:19Which team do you think
26:20Is most likely
26:21You know
26:22Abhishek Sharma
26:23Comes from your old town
26:24He seems to have changed
26:25The way the game is played
26:26I mean
26:27These are cricketers
26:28Who call them
26:29You know
26:30Can go and hit a sixth
26:31Of the first ball
26:32This is one of the best
26:33Indian team
26:34I have ever seen
26:35You know
26:36Because if you look at
26:37All the
26:38You know
26:39Batchman
26:40They have a strike rate
26:41Of more than 150
26:42You know
26:43And even the bowlers
26:44If you talk about the bowlers
26:46They have economy rates
26:47Of
26:48Six
26:49Seven
26:50Very very good
26:51So India firm favorites
26:52For you
26:53And definitely
26:54If you analyze
26:55All the teams
26:56India is a favorite
26:57Because you know
26:58One thing has been changed
26:59With the Indian cricket team
27:00Fearless cricket
27:01They are not scared
27:02To hit the ball
27:03They are
27:04The way it should be played
27:052020 cricket
27:06They are playing
27:07The intensity of the cricket
27:09Is fantastic
27:10I know
27:11Mr. Gawaskar doesn't like
27:12The use of that word
27:13Fearless
27:14Right?
27:15You have a problem
27:16With the use of the word
27:17Fearless
27:18Is the cricket fearless
27:19Or is it just the way
27:20The game is played
27:21I sometimes wonder
27:22Mr. Gawaskar
27:23If you had played
27:24T20 cricket
27:25Would you have stepped out
27:26First over
27:27To hit the bowler over his head
27:28Honest answer
27:29Hundred percent
27:30Hundred percent
27:31In the first over
27:32Of the jubilee test
27:33In 1979-80
27:34I hit a six
27:35I know
27:36John Lever I think
27:37Correct
27:38Years ago
27:39Certainly now in 2026
27:40Maybe not
27:41I wouldn't have the strength today
27:42To hit
27:43Considering I am
27:44You know
27:45My age
27:46I wouldn't be able to hit a six
27:47But maybe a boundary
27:48No, but you would have got better bats
27:49So you would have been easily able to do it
27:51Rajdeep, can you imagine
27:52Haan
27:53Last match
27:54Yes
27:55More of his
27:56More sixes than fourth
27:57Three and two
27:58The hundred against New Zealand
27:59When he hit a hundred against New Zealand
28:01I have seen him playing club cricket
28:02Much later in life
28:03And he would come and
28:04Tong the bowlers for six
28:05So Sunil Gawaskar
28:06For those who don't know
28:07Could have played T20 cricket very well
28:09And would have been a champion at it
28:11Atul Vasan
28:12Your favourites India
28:13First of all I must say that
28:14Fearless is the epitome of the word
28:16Is Sunil Gawaskar
28:17Because you know when he used to bat
28:18There was a chance to die
28:19Right
28:20They could be Virash
28:21They could be Tendulkar
28:22So what's the word to use for these players then?
28:23They are fearless because you know
28:24They are
28:25Bindas
28:26They play Bindas
28:27Big bank balances
28:28And fearless of what is going to happen to them
28:29Later in the life
28:30Yeah
28:31Having said that
28:32But I must say that you know
28:33In this format
28:34This is the nature of the beast
28:35Any given day underdog can win
28:37So I would never predict
28:38You know nobody
28:39No team is so far ahead of other teams
28:41Not the days of West Indies in 80s
28:43Where you knew they were going to win
28:45But now everybody is at par
28:46And T20
28:47On a given day you can have the curveball
28:49So I will never write off any team
28:50Is there any player you are looking forward to Mr. Gawaskar
28:53I mentioned Abhishek Sharma a couple of times
28:55But there are many others across teams
28:57Duel Brevis I saw him the other day
29:00He seems a magical player
29:01Some of the shots they play
29:02Do you see any player who stands out for you?
29:06Yes Travis Head
29:07Travis Head from Australia
29:09Looking forward to seeing him play
29:10Looking forward to seeing the England captain
29:12Harry Brook and Jacob Basel also play
29:15These are the guys
29:16Phil Salt
29:17These are some wonderful players
29:19Kamindo Mendes from Sri Lanka
29:21So I think this should be a very very good team
29:23And I'm also looking forward to some of the Pakistani players playing
29:28Because they are entertaining players as well
29:30You have a favorite?
29:31Do you think India is going to win?
29:33Do you have a favorite?
29:37Okay, we've again lost contact to Farishteh
29:40But I want to ask Mr. Gawaskar in conclusion
29:43Lots of shots are played
29:45Would you play the reverse sweep to a fast bowler?
29:48It's one thing to go and hit him over his head
29:50Which I'm sure you would do
29:51Would you be tempted to play a reverse sweep of a fast bowler?
29:55Without a helmet?
29:57Without a helmet?
29:58No, I think
29:59Then you need an appointment with a neurosurgeon and a dental surgeon
30:05Without a helmet
30:06You take out the helmet from today's T20
30:08The average score will be 140
30:09And then we'll see
30:10Interesting
30:11And then we'll see fearless
30:12Even in the test matches
30:13And then we'll see the word fearless
30:14Yes
30:15Okay
30:16Wonderful to have all of you on this conversation
30:18As I said
30:19We're all looking forward to this T20 World Cup
30:21And we hope that the cricket will take over
30:24From all the politics that has taken place
30:26Over the last couple of weeks
30:28Because the sport must triumph overall
30:30And this was the first part of the show
30:32Mr. Gavaskar, Madanlal, Atul Vasan, Farishteh
30:35Thank you very much for joining us here
30:37On our cricket round table
30:38Round table
30:39And this is our choice of round table
30:40Round table
30:41And this is our choice of round table
30:42And this will be the first round table
Comments