‘Hand Over Those Behind Pulwama Attacks’: Sunil Gavaskar Asks ‘Friend’ Imran Khan To Fulfil ‘Naya Pakistan’ Promise

Calling him a friend, veteran cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has asked Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan for action against perpetrators of Pulwama terror attack which left 40 CRPF jawans dead, to fulfil his promise of ‘Naya Pakistan’.

Gavaskar said that he wants Imran Khan to take the first friendly steps as Pakistani prime minister and ensure that perpetrators of terror are handed over to the United Nations.

Gavaskar said that Khan after taking office claimed that if India takes one step towards peace, Pakistan will take two, but Pakistan should take the first step this time.

"You take those two friendly steps and then see the many steps India will take. I am no politician. You are my friend, Wasim is my friend, Shoaib Akhtar is my friend. You take that first step. Let old Pakistan stay. You take that first step, and then see the number of friendly steps India will take,” reports India Today.

Gavaskar asked the Pakistani PM to hand over those who are responsible for the attacks and stop cross-border infiltration, adding that if he takes such steps then only it is a ‘Naya Pakistan’. "I am not asking for words, I am asking for action to be taken," he said.

Cricketer Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Azharuddin had earlier said that India should boycott Pakistan in the World Cup. Gavaskar refrained from making any such comment. He said that by refraining from World Cup, India will concede two points to Pakistan, whereas it has been beating the latter every time in World Cup. He added that he is with the country, and supports whatever decision the government will take.

"If the country wants we shouldn't play Pakistan, I am with them,” he said.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Committee of Administration (CoA) chief Vinod Rai has asked Board for Cricket Control in India (BCCI) CEO Rahul Johri to write a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) requesting the world governing body to keep Pakistan out of the World Cup.