Gautam Gambhir Against India vs Pakistan Bilateral Cricket Ties

Gautam Gambhir feels the time is not right to play bilateral cricket with Pakistan. The Indian opener, who made a lucky Test return against New Zealand in September after two years in the wilderness, said terror strikes from Pakistan harmed sporting ties.

"Wouldn't even think of playing cricket with Pakistan," Gambhir told NDTV on Tuesday, adding: "Indian lives more important than sports."

The recent terror attack on an Army garrison in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir has evoked sharp reaction against Pakistan. While Bollywood has taken some beating, the Indian cricket Board has also indicated its reluctance to play Pakistan in multi-national tournaments.

The Indian cricket Board has written to the International Cricket Council that India and Pakistan should not be put in the same group in the Champions Trophy in UK next year.

India and Pakistan don't have bilateral cricket relationship since 2013. The upcoming bilateral women's series between India and Pakistan is also under a cloud.

Gambhir insisted that every Indian must put himself into the shoes of an army personnel before talking about keeping politics and sports separate.

"I absolutely endorse that we should not have any relation or ties with Pakistan until the time this cross border terrorism finishes. People need to put themselves in army's shoes who have lost their kids, someone have lost their father, son.

"We can say this sitting in an AC room that cricket or bollywood should not be compared to politics as long as we don't think ourselves as Indians, or think for our own countrymen. So, I totally endorse that until the time we don't secure our own Indians, our own countrymen, all other things can be kept aside," he said.