The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must be congratulated for its bold move to invite the Pakistan cricket team to visit India for a short tour of one-day and Twenty20 matches at the end of this year. The decision has delighted millions of fans in both countries, who revel in the competitive intensity these contests inevitably produce. Quite clearly, the cricket-loving public in the subcontinent is against the game being politicised in a narrow and chauvinistic way — something a section of our political class and intelligentsia is wont to do. There is absolutely no logic for prohibiting bilateral cricket ties at a time when India and Pakistan maintain a range of other sporting contacts, apart from having cultural exchanges and trading relationships. Also, India has no reservation about playing Pakistan in multi-nation tournaments, where refusal to play would entail forfeiture. The last such match in India was held just a year ago — the World Cup semi-final at Mohali. It is true that India-Pakistan cricket has had a tendency to arouse excessive passions, but an important reason for this is the fact that the two countries rarely play each other. The answer surely is more cricket — or enough to make such matches seem so routine and habitual that nobody would regard them as if they were politically charged gladiatorial contests or a matter of national honour.
Although the BCCI’s decision must be officially approved by the Centre, it appears that the tour has already received an informal nod from the ministries of Home and External Affairs. Predictably, those who have been running a longstanding hate campaign against India-Pakistan cricket, such as the Shiv Sena, have already registered their opposition. That Mumbai, which suffered the 26/11 terror attack, resulting in the snapping of sporting ties, has not been chosen to host any of the matches is probably deliberate. The Sena, which used its roughnecks to vandalise the pitch in Delhi’s Ferozshah Kotla and ransack the BCCI office in Mumbai in an attempt to disrupt Pakistan’s 1999 tour of India, would have been difficult to contend with in Mumbai. It was in the 1999 series that Pakistan registered a nail-biting victory in Chennai despite a heroic innings by Sachin Tendulkar that almost saw India through. Although deeply disappointed, the throng of cricket fans gave the Pakistani players a standing ovation as they did a victory lap of the M.A. Chidambaram stadium. It was a significant moment in the history of India-Pakistan sporting relations which underlined a basic truth — that cricket, when played and enjoyed in the right spirit, is but a game.
Keywords: Board of Control for Cricket in India, India-Pakistan cricket ties, Pakistan tour of India
I and my friends are looking forward to see the Matches with great
delight. But in my opinion , Indian Government has to take firmer steps
to make a friendly bond with Pakistan , and precisely improve the relations between Muslims and other religions in India itself. And there
would come a time when Pakistan would act as a pacifist towards India.
A cricket series between the two nations can be seen as a base to the future talks between the two countries. We have seen it in the past that cricket has been a source of the bilateral talks.It will be a derisive act if some parties take this series as a political agenda.The ardent love for the game of the fans of both the countries should be taken into consideration and BCCI should consider more series in future fo the fate of the two countries to be better.
It should be a welcomed decision taken by BCCI to organize a series between these two nations. there is nothing wrong in this. The game should not be affected just because of politics. IF indian politicians don't allow to play against Pakistan then why they use to visit to pakistan & also call them in india. It is really disgusting. They should shame on their selves...
India legendarily known as safe,peace loving nation should deliberately bring to bear the deeds which might help to cement the ongoing problems between India and Pakistan,albeit the results might not be prominent.Besides its in the hands of government what to try to fuel or add water to the fire between the two countries as most people are oblivious to inner politics and just follow what is shown to them by their respective leaders.
IT is a welcome move for most of the cricket enthusiast. i also feel that
cricket should be kept away from diplomatic issues. But Indo-pak series
should not belimited to shorter formats only.. BCCI-PCB should try and
plan a test series in india or elsewhere. After all its years since the
two were against each other in a test match.
It is pathetic that we chose to play with Pakistan. Firstly, Games/Arts and country's borders are different issues. I would never think playing a game would improve the relationship. Secondly, Games and Nationalism are deeply related. Our army brothers are fighting with Pakistan(read friendly firing) and losing their lives. And we here are playing with the same people. Can a family play with a neighbour who has killed family members??
We can play host to the Pak team and placate them as we always do on more serious political issues.
Can they reciprocate and hold a series on the pakistan soil?
Also, Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that it is meaningless to hold such matches with so much of hatred and tension all around.
It is not a balanced Editorial since it goes beyond the realms of a mere game .
Why is it that in the name of diplomacy we making the same mistakes
again and again. Pakistan cannot be trusted.
I agree with Raghavan. The timing of this series (in an already crowded calendar) is not appropriate, but then who tells the BCCI?
Whether this series should be seen as positive measure in bolstering
Indo-Pak relations or not is another debate. But I am pretty convinced
that there is no need of scheduling the same between the test and one-
day leg of another series in progress(though the break may be extended).
Ideally BCCI dont need PCB's support. But PCB urgently need BCCI's
support to have series with india. After attack on srilankan cricket
team, no team has gone to pak to play cricket. so cricketing situation
in pak is miserable. now they have organized series, then as balasaheb
has pointed out. we have 1 option for every patriotic india. BOYCOTT THE
SERIES... if they have less marketing revenue from the series. BCCI wont
organize it again..
We should see every decision keeping in mind our national
interests.Pakistan cricket is in a state of decline and so do its
various establishments because of their stubborn radical stand. India
should leverage every opportunity to forge strong relations with its
volatile neighbor in trade,water sharing and cricket et al through
astute diplomatic moves.
This is soo true the cricket is a game and should be kept away from the truce that keeps happening between India and Pakistan both Diplomatic and military confrontations India has signed a number of contracts with pakistan for the promotion of trade in the beginning of the year so cricket should be taken to a different level so that the cricket enthusiasts can enjoy and good peace of a game ...... Move of the BCCI really appreciated the down trodden PCB will get some financial support because of this which will result in better incentives to the pakistan cricket players and there less indulging into "Match Fixing" and thus helping in maintaining the ethics of the game.
There is nothing wrong if BCCI invite Pakistan cricket team to visit India for a short tour of one-day and Twenty20 matches at the year end. The decision has come as good surprise to millions of fans in both countries, who wallows in the breathtaking competitions. It is absolutely a political issue if such endeavours would be seen as cricket diplomacy which have failed so far.Our political class is well-known for their exercise in futility. BCCI earns astronomically in the cricket business, so are benefited the cricketing class.
BCCI’s decision needs official approval from the centre. There is no reason to not to give go-ahead for the same. In India every thing is controlled by politics and Shiv Sena's hate campaign against India-Pakistan cricket is not new at all. Mumbai terror attack, resulting in the snapping of sporting ties with Pakistan is still alive.
The cricketing ties have always acted as a healer in the past.the two nations depend on Cricket for betterment of the soaring relations is a shame.The Government should take concrete steps apart form Cricket to tackle the long lasting problems between India and Pakistan.In the past also we have witnessed that a sporting event is followed by a a terrorist activity.
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