File photo of Rohit Sharma of India and Babar Azam of Pakistan with Asia Cup Trophy. Photo Credit: Reuters
Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan says that do not mix sports and politics. This is a statement made by those who neither understand politics nor sports. History has shown that sports are often politics by other means. Perhaps Rizwan is afraid that due to the politics of his country, international cricket may come there at a stagnation. And if India refuses to play Pakistan in the neutral region, then the World Cup will also have a question mark. National coach and BJP politician Gautam Gambhir feels that India should never play Pakistan. In India’s plans to separate Pakistan, cricket is a useful tool.
The Control Board for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified that a decision has not yet been taken on the Asia Cup to be played in September. But it is difficult to see Pakistan either Pakistan coming to Pakistan by playing in UAE or Sri Lanka. This is very soon, and, as the government has said, the operation vermilion continues. The current end of enmity is only a ‘strategic stagnation’.
Cricket has for such a long time borrowed metaphors from the army that to see traffic in the opposite direction (the ‘strategic timeout’ of the IPL) is shocking. Giving a break from both sides of the border between the two countries cannot be a bad idea. In the current environment, there is no possibility of a public resentment.
Politics vs. Commerce
An Asia Cup without an India-Pakistan match is like a Hamlet without a prince of Denmark. It would be interesting to see politics vs. commerce logic, as Sony has paid $ 170 million-media rights for all Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournament by 2031. This includes men and women tournaments in the Asia Cup, Under -19 and emerging nation competitions, the last of which is scheduled to be held in the next month. So this is a question, as Rizwan must have felt to introduce sports, politics and commerce by now.
There is also a question of ACC, currently under the leadership of Pakistan’s Internal Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. The ACC established in 1983 was a useful body when Asia did not have much voice in the International Cricket Council. But it may welcome it. None of the full members do not include the inclination of ‘spreading the game’ in the region, which was initially clear with missionary enthusiasm.
Fifteen percent of the Asia Cup broadcasting income goes to each of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Apart from India, no one can let that amount go. If India refuses a visa to the Pakistan team – other countries are unlikely to complain to the International Cricket Council, which is now led by the son of the Home Minister of India – may have to re -read the television rights amount.
Indians are willing to send messages to other countries that you support the enemy in your own crisis, with a popular booking website that has stopped visiting Turkay or Azerbaijan, stating that “in solidarity with our nation, we have shut down all promotion and proposals for visiting Azerbaijan and Turkey.” In this spirit, it is possible that BCCI may cancel India’s visit to Bangladesh in August. A retired army officer was quoted, saying, “If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should capture seven states of North-East India. I think it is necessary to start a discussion on a joint-system system with China.” Competitive patriotism is a major game in South Asia.
Pull out
The Asia Cup has been buffed with the first political winds. In 1986, India pulled out of the tournament in Sri Lanka as relations with that country were in less eb. Pakistan was taken out by Pakistan in 1990-91 when it was held in India as political relations between the two were tense. In 1993, the tournament was canceled for the same reason.
There is a habit of modeling through violence in cricket, recently Gidon High has written, remembering political murders or terrorist attacks which have left the ongoing cricket unaffected. But it seems different. India keeps all cards, and as recent events have shown them, they do not hesitate to play.
Published – May 21, 2025 02:20 AM IST