You can’t lose points in a World Cup: Ganguly questions Pakistan’s call

New Delhi: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed surprise over Pakistan’s decision to back out of the match against India on February 15 during the ongoing T20 World Cup, saying the move could prove costly in a tournament where every point matters.

“I am surprised with Pakistan’s decision. Backing out of a [T20] World Cup game — for what? They are playing in Sri Lanka in any case,” Ganguly said, questioning the logic behind the call.

“You come to a World Cup to win it and every point is important. You can’t lose points in a World Cup. I am a little surprised, but that is the decision they have taken.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the Bharat Corporate Premier League (BCPL) Season 4 here, Ganguly also backed Indian cricket team top-order's aggressive batting style even though they found themselves struggling at 46/4 at one stage and 77/6 at another in the tournament opener against USA.“That’s what T20 cricket is — you have to keep hitting. They are very good players and they have been doing this for a long period of time. It will happen,” he said.

Jerseys for the Bharat Corporate Premier League (BCPL) Season 4

Acknowledging that aggressive cricket carries risks, Ganguly added that occasional failures are inevitable.

“There will be some games where they miss out because they are human beings, and when you keep hitting all the time, you will miss,” he said.

Backing the Indian team strongly, Ganguly described the side as one of the most balanced in the competition.

“This is a very powerful team, a very strong team with balance—bowling, batting, spin bowling and fielding. As the World Cup goes on, they will get better because once you get into the tournament, the rhythm comes back,” he said.

“I consider India as favourites, and they will be a very hard side to beat,” Ganguly added.

The former India captain Ganguly and World Cup-winning fast bowler Zaheer Khan also energised the Bharat Corporate Premier League (BCPL) Season 4 with their presence as Brand Ambassadors at the trophy and jersey unveiling ceremony. The league will go international for the first time, with 10 teams competing for top honours.

Addressing the gathering, Ganguly said BCPL provides an important platform for aspiring cricketers from the corporate sector. He recalled his own early days playing corporate cricket while working with Tata Steel, stating that such opportunities played a key role in shaping his career. Ganguly added that BCPL could open pathways for talented professionals to pursue competitive cricket.

Zaheer Khan echoed similar sentiments, describing BCPL as a valuable platform for identifying and nurturing hidden talent from the corporate community. Recalling his own grassroots journey, Zaheer said he believed the league would grow into a strong talent pipeline. He also congratulated league founder Saurabh Jha for conceptualising the initiative.

Ganguly will serve as mentor for BCPL Season 4, which will feature pan-India representation for the first time, expanding beyond its earlier Delhi-NCR base. Zaheer Khan will take on the role of Advisor to the Technical Committee, in addition to serving as Brand Ambassador for the league.

Tags : Sourav Ganguly, Zaheer Khan, Pakistan cricket team, Indian cricket team, T20 World Cup