Sign in

'Indians should never forget ENG's gesture after 2008 Mumbai attacks': Gavaskar on BCCI's offer to reschedule 5th Test

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, while lauding BCCI's decision, said that the Indians should not forget England's gesture after the 2008 Mumbai attack.s

Updated on: Sep 11, 2021, 10:18:31 IST
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

Sunil Gavaskar welcomed BCCI's decision to offer ECB rescheduling of the cancelled fifth Test between India and England. The legendary cricketer cited the example of England's tour to India back in 2008 when the Kevin Pietersen-led side had to fly back home midway due to the terror attacks in Mumbai but they came next month to play the two-match Test series.

'Indians should never forget England's gesture after 2008 Mumbai attacks': Sunil Gavaskar welcomes BCCI's decision to offer rescheduling of 5th Test (Getty Images)
'Indians should never forget England's gesture after 2008 Mumbai attacks': Sunil Gavaskar welcomes BCCI's decision to offer rescheduling of 5th Test (Getty Images)

The fifth India-England match, which was slated to begin in Manchester on Friday, was postponed indefinitely due to the Covid-19 scare in the Indian camp. India's assistant physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive on the eve of the Test match sending fears among the Indian players.

ALSO READ| ‘India will be favourites whenever the postponed Test against England takes place’: Irfan Pathan

"We as Indians should never forget that the England team came back after the horrific attacks of 2008. They would have been perfectly entitled to say 'we are not comfortable to come back'.

"So, we should never forget that Kevin Pietersen led the team and he was the main man. If KP had said 'no I don't want to go' that would have been the end of the tour. It was because KP convinced the others that the team came and we had that fantastic Test match in Chennai where India chased down 380 on Day 5 to win," Gavaskar said on Sony Sports Network.

England left India on November 28 - two days after Mumbai came under attack. The last two ODIs of the seven-match series in Guwahati (on November 29) and Delhi (On December 2) were cancelled.

The England side, however, came back for the two-match Test series. The second Test was shifted to Chennai from Mumbai.

"That gesture of the ECB must be remembered," Gavaskar said.

Gavaskar said it was a fantastic gesture by the BCCI to offer a reschedule of this Test which can be played during their limited-overs tour next year.

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.