India, Pakistan cricket match nothing less than a war: Virender Sehwag

Srinagar: Former Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag has said that the cricket match between India and Pakistan was nothing less than a war and that India should win it.

“There is another point that is discussed. We should do whatever is good for the country’s welfare. When India and Pakistan play a match, it is nothing less than a war. We should win the war, not lose it,” Sehwag has said at an event in Goa.

Asked if India should play Pakistan in the World Cup, Sehwag said, “There are two points which are discussed, whether we should have a war with Pakistan or not (and whether we should play Pakistan).”

India and Pakistan will lock horns in a World Cup round-robin match on 16 June. The World Cup will be played in England and Wales between May 30 and July 14 this year. All teams are scheduled to play nine round-robin matches each before four teams qualify for the knockout stage.

There have been calls for the India team to boycott the match against Pakistan from several fans and former cricketers following February’s militant attack in Pulwama that left 40 CRPF personnel dead.