Sports and politics
India continues to mix sports and politics in ways that offend cricket fans around the world. Just six months ahead of the ICC World Cup, the host nation is breaking with precedent from cricket and other major sports by refusing to announce the tournament schedule, which makes it harder for sports fans to plan trips and for broadcasters and advertisers to schedule coverage and spending. Although the official line is that scheduling has been delayed to work around the monsoon season and avoid the risk of washouts, this is just a laughable excuse.
The real hold-up is due to the country’s political leadership’s problems with Pakistan. India has already said it will not travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup in September — a month before the World Cup — in line with the government’s boycott policy regarding Pakistan. Although Pakistan has floated the possibility of holding India’s Asia Cup matches at a neutral venue to ensure the event goes ahead, the PCB has also said it would demand the same treatment for the World Cup. However, India and the ICC have not formally agreed to the World Cup conditionality, which may also be a factor in the delay — India has embarrassed Pakistan by refusing to play in the country, but is now afraid of us returning the favour at cricket’s most high-profile tournament.
However, some reports suggest that the scheduling delay may also be because of a dispute between the Indian board and the government over a tax exemption for the tournament and commercial partners. The government seems to want its pound of flesh and knows full well that the ICC’s financial priorities mean there is no chance the tournament would be moved if it doesn’t grant the exemption. Indeed, India’s dominance over the ICC has reached levels where it is now dictating terms to the world body, akin to a competition regulator that must act on the whims of the biggest fish in the market. Pakistan, on the other hand, may have to choose whether to prioritise sports or political principles. Both choices will have significant opposition.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2023.
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