Shiv Sena hooliganism has unmasked the real face of a so-called secular country
LAHORE: The recent behaviour of the Shiv Sena towards Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials in India is highly upsetting. Such hooliganism has only been encouraged by the attitude of the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unmasking the real face of a so-called secular country. I am sure a lot of Indian cricket fans would also be displeased at such an extremist representation of their countrymen.
Let’s now go to the question on everyone’s mind: why did the PCB render its support to India when the issue of the Big Three alliance had come up? Why did Pakistan take at face value Indian assurances of playing Pakistan? Who are the officials that blindly facilitated India’s quest for taking over the game and why wasn’t the BCCI’s betrayal anticipated?
Isn’t it a joke that despite knowing about India’s double-game for ages, poor PCB officials dreamt of accruing benefits on account of supporting the Big Three plan? Looking at the other side of the picture tells us of the lack of wisdom and the inclination towards India that resulted in this illogical decision of the then PCB chairman, who entered into this ridiculous agreement. Here, I would not hesitate blaming our government, which, should never have appointed a controversial, non-cricket person to such a key position in the first place. There was already a lot of hue and cry against him for the work done as caretaker chief minister of Punjab.
We have seen India hatch a plan many times after completing its homework, secluding Pakistan on each occasion, and I have no doubt that its next step will be to keep Pakistan away from the World Twenty20 due to be held in that country next year. The International Cricket Council has already shown its bias by withdrawing umpire Aleem Dar from officiating matches in India during the current series with South Africa. Our prime minister hasn’t issued a single comment of displeasure at this state of affairs so far, even though he has a very good forum in the US right now to publicise his viewpoint. My humble request to the government of Pakistan is to deal with this situation in a wise manner. We should be responding to Indian antics with full diplomatic force.
Syed Abid Hussain
Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2015.
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