Following the Indian home ministry’s announcement that Pakistan can tour India, Pakistan can now officially visit India for an ODI and T20 series. One has to say that, following a few months of speculation, the right decision has been arrived at, although not everyone will agree with the same. India and Pakistan’s relations have been strained more than ever before since the Mumbai terror attacks that took place a few years ago. But, while it is understandable that India cannot travel to Pakistan for obvious reasons, there is nothing wrong in a Pakistan cricket team visiting India.
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People question that how the two nations can play cricket against each other when they cannot look eye to eye. However, it is also a fact that this fundamental doesn’t apply to other sports. Since the 26/11 terror strikes, kabaddi and hockey teams from Pakistan have visited India, but no one has raised any objection. It was good for the respective sports that the games went ahead without any opposition. Just because cricket is such a high profile game, it shouldn’t become a victim of politics. What happened in 26/11 is unpardonable, and the perpetrators of the gruesome act mustbe brought to book. At the same time, not playing cricket with Pakistan isn’t going to help the probe in anyway.
Like kabaddi and other games, cricket is also a sport, and it should be allowed to remain the same. The short series, the first between the neighbouring countries in nearly half a decade, shouldn’t viewed as one which will strengthen ties between the two countries. What India has undergone due to terror activities emanating for Pakistan is too ghastly for a short cricket series to help those affected overcome the wounds. As such, this should be played as a simple series, just like the battle between India and England, which will get underway in a fortnight’s time.
Also, even though India have agreed to let Pakistan visit them, the latter shouldn’t hope for the same to be reciprocated. As things stand at present, it is highly impossible for cricketing nations to travel to Pakistan. Sri Lanka took the risk some years back, and the scars of terror attack will be fresh in the mind. In early 2000’s, New Zealand cricketers were caught unawares following a dreaded blast outside their hotel in Karachi. For sure, the memories might still haunt them.
Pakistan may argue that any place is the world is not safe, since Mumbai also reeled under a terror attack while London too had to undergo the tragedy of a major bomb blast. However, the fact is that the incidences of such gory attacks are more frequent in Pakistan compared to any other cricketing nation. As such, at least till the situation improves significantly, Pakistan must satisfy themselves by playing away from home all the time. For starters, they will surely feel welcome in India.
--By A Cricket Analyst
