Cricket as CBM
Cricket-frenzy nations, Pakistan and India, got a jolt as their euphoria for seeing teams in action was shot down. The denial from a spokesperson for the Indian External Affairs Ministry that respective foreign ministers on the sidelines of SCO summit "did not talk cricket" was quite discouraging. The rumours spread as the PCB chairman incidentally joined an ongoing conversation between the two, stirring hopes for revival of bilateral cricket series involving Pakistan and India that has been in limbo now since 2008. The format through which both the nations play mostly in a third country is unbecoming of the spirit of cricket, and also of sportsmanship. But that has been the case as politics of hate and exigency overshadows sports, scuttling positive synergies of socio-cultural amalgamation.
The hope-line, nonetheless, swirls out of multilateralism as Pakistan is set to host the upcoming Champions Trophy early next year. The Green Shirts, who hold the title, are eager for a great duel with India playing on Pakistani soil, leaving aside regression and brinkmanship. Likewise, England too has pinned hopes on India coming down to play in Pakistan as the tournament's broadcast rights are in thin air, if they stay away. A mix of commercialism and sports, however, are still short of the charismatic wand to make India and Pakistan come up with a narrative reflecting the aspiration of their populace.
As far as the SCO huddle was concerned, it was an opportunity lost. The straight-jacket diplomacy on the part of New Delhi not to enter into a bilateral discourse met with a similar silence from Islamabad. This episode of reciprocity is devoid of statesmanship, and unfortunately both the countries are hostage to egoism and history. Pakistan and India have a great potential in sports tourism, and the same goes on to mend the fences if unbridled interaction is assured in an apolitical sense. Restoring the passion of cricket is desired, and it will certainly have peace dividends. One hopes India will fly down to play a good game of cricket in all humility.