Former India cricket captain Bishen Singh Bedi on Thursday extended his support to the revival of Indo-Pak cricketing ties, saying the sport should not be mixed with politics.
“We are living in free India, there are those who oppose, but I am of the view that there should be matches between India and Pakistan. Cricket is a separate thing from politics, the two should not be mixed. If cricketers are ready to play, then why not?” Bedi told reporters here.
India and Pakistan are set to revive their cricketing ties after a gap of five years following Mumbai terror attack.
The two teams are scheduled to play three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals in India in December-January.
Bedi’s successor as Indian cricket team’s captain, Sunil Gavaskar, had earlier slammed BCCI’s decision to resume the bilateral ties saying that there was no need for the resumption of cricketing relation with Pakistan as they were not cooperating in the 26/11 probe.
Keywords: Indo-Pak cricket match
I just can't understand, Why many people are mixing up things with CRICKET only......??? India are playing with Pakistan in all the other sports; including our National Game, HOCKEY...!!! On this point, i think Mr. Bedi is right... Let Cricket not mix up with Politics...!!! Let it be the start of India-Pakistan series every year...
Terrorism is not Politics, Mr Bedi. You are educated enough to know the difference. If Politics should not be mixed with sports why we boycotted South Africa for 2 decades ? Why Pakistan boycotted Moscow Olympics in 1980 ? Why Pakistan refused to play test match in Ahmedabad in 2005 ? People like you just want cricket to happen all the time so that you are in news. You want to look good to BCCI and BCCI want to look good to ruling elite headed by the most passive Prime Minister India ever had. Now this lobby will try to manipulate what appears in media to garner support for this series which is more of a political drama rather than a genuine sports contest. I love cricket but lives are more important than cricket.
My boycott is a symbol of my anger and frustration with Pakistan. Are we first humans and Indians than cricket lovers ?
Mr. Bedi, Why didn't you said so when we stopped playing with pakistan
after 26/11. If you so strongly believe that cricket is a seperate
thing then it was so in 2008 too. Just because the 26/11 dust has
somewhat settled people like you are again supporting Pakistan team
wish to play crisket with India, what about those families feelings
whose loved ones died in that tragic terror strike sponsored by
pakistan state agencies ? What about pakistan's continued denial to
deliver justice and put the culprits in jail. This cricket series
won't help in anyway it will just make matters worse by making people
forget 26/11 untill something like that happens again.
While it is right that Cricket should not be mixed with pure politics,
it is for Indians in general to decide how much of 26/11 is pure
politics and how much is genuine concern for justice and fight against
terrorism. Mr. Bedi perhaps thinks it is more of former than latter.
I agree with Mr.Bedi but BCCI and govt.of india has to see that no nonsense from pakistan jihadis is done in india. If due care is taken I dont see whey they cannot play in india.
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