Pakistan’s Babar Azam (L) and India’s Virat Kohli (R) look in reverse instructions throughout a match between the 2 groups on this undated photograph. — AFP/File
Sports activities, dance, and music don’t have anything to do with nationwide or worldwide politics, and one should hold sports activities away from politics. Such sentiments have been expressed by none apart from Bharatiya Janata Get together’s (BJP) prime political thoughts, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in 1998, after hardliner Bal Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, a right-wing Hindutva-based political social gathering, threatened to stop the Pakistan staff from visiting India. They even broken the ‘pitch,’ of the cricket venue however Vajpayee welcomed the daring initiative taken by the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif for sending the staff as per schedule. Even Sharif’s arch-political rival within the nation, cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, sang praises of the choice.
Time has modified, and so has politics. Over time, the most well-liked sports activities, like cricket, have grow to be ‘hostage’ to the hardline political narrative of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His method to sports activities or sportsmanship is way completely different from that of his predecessors, although the identical social gathering had leaders like Vajpayee. Even somebody like BJP’s prime chief Lal Krishna Advani welcomed Pakistan’s determination.
Immediately, India has utterly politicised even non-political ventures like sports activities, music, and cultural exchanges. Cricket, being the most well-liked sport in each India and Pakistan and with over a billion individuals on each side loving to see the 2 groups play one another on their soil, has grow to be hostage to a ‘destructive narrative’. In consequence, India has refused to ship its staff to Pakistan, even for the Champions Trophy, and it’s additionally unsure whether or not its captain, Rohit Sharma, shall be allowed to go to Lahore for a bunch photograph with the captains of all of the collaborating groups — one thing completely in opposition to the spirit of the sport.
Curiously, the 2 groups and gamers nonetheless preserve cordial relationships, and they’re usually disillusioned, believing that if the groups can play on ‘impartial grounds,’ why not in entrance of their very own individuals?
The 1999 tour was one of the vital profitable, each from a cricketing perspective and from the spectators’ viewpoint, moreover, after all, producing large income.
Though the complete tour befell after 11 years, the Pakistan staff visited India in 1997 for its golden jubilee celebrations. In return, India visited Pakistan for 3 one-day internationals.
In 2018, former prime minister Imran Khan invited legendary Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and cricketer-turned-media celeb Navjot Singh Sidhu to his inaugural ceremony. Whereas solely Sidhu attended the perform, the 2 others, attributable to their pre-commitments, couldn’t, however prolonged felicitations to Khan on changing into the premier. The Indian cricket staff additionally despatched ‘signed’ cricket bats as a message of goodwill.
These have been the times when political sanity prevailed, regardless of tensions, allegations, and counter-allegations.
But it surely by no means impacted the excursions of their cricket and hockey groups, and even Kabaddi groups visited each international locations. Additionally, people-to-people contacts have been restored, alongside visits from poets, artists, intellectuals, and even Observe-II diplomacy on the political entrance.
So, what actually went unsuitable? Nicely, ‘sports activities merged with politics,’ significantly cricket. Sadly, India’s hardline method isn’t confined to simply sports activities, but additionally to all such ties that unite the individuals and produce some type of sanity to over a billion individuals in each international locations.
As soon as, Pakistan and India have been co-hosts for the 1987 World Cup, and at this time, India has refused to play in Pakistan, even for the ICC’s Champions Trophy, with out citing any purpose. It’s unlucky, as by no means up to now have Indian cricketers confronted any menace, and their earlier excursions went off with none points.
BJP beneath PM Modi, who’s having fun with a second time period, has intertwined ‘cricketing ties’ with politics, although neither the Indian Cricket Board nor gamers themselves have ever expressed reservations. The 2 cricket boards, in addition to gamers, have a cordial relationship.
In the previous couple of months, now we have witnessed how the Indian authorities prevented its staff from visiting Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, scheduled to kick off subsequent month. Nonetheless, they agreed to play on impartial floor —Dubai— and the match of the event shall be performed on February twenty third.
If Indian media experiences are right, India has additionally refused to ship its captain, Rohit Sharma, for a short go to to Lahore for a ‘group photo’ of the captains of all of the collaborating groups. This sort of ‘negative approach,’ one can least say, isn’t solely damaging for sports activities generally but additionally for a high-profile event organised by the ICC specifically. One million-dollar query is, will the ICC stay a silent spectator? It additionally means Pakistan won’t be visiting India for subsequent 12 months’s World Cup, and the 2 sides will once more play on impartial floor.
Pakistan may even not tour India for subsequent 12 months’s World Cup, and the identical impartial venue system shall be utilized even then. Sadly, the ICC’s personal method is questionable, because it has really taken away the spirit behind the game. They need to have taken a place, as this was not a bilateral sequence.
Nicely-known Indian journalist and writer, Saba Naqvi, in her newest e book, The Saffron Storm: From Vajpayee to Modi, has traced the historical past of India’s hottest, in addition to most controversial, social gathering, BJP, and its altering political state of affairs since hardline Modi. Her in-depth examine additionally reveals how politics impacts the Indian media.
“The BJP’s saffron storm is, therefore, not just about ideological orientation: it is also about the ruthless application of power to deny critics and opponents an equal fighting ground. The storm is built on money power and implemented through police power, while the reshaping of the national consciousness is aided by a highly communalised media.”
Relations between the 2 ‘hostile neighbours’ remained tense over the past seven a long time however by no means reached this extent beneath prime minister Modi. The unlucky half is that beneath his authorities, there’s zero likelihood of enchancment within the two international locations’ relationship. Even sports activities, music, theatre, tradition, and the alternate of visits by a cross-section of society have grow to be ‘hostage’ to an anti-people narrative. Folks in each international locations like to see them taking part in in opposition to one another on their respective soils.
Sports activities deliver individuals nearer, and so does a optimistic political method, as in any case, it’s the individuals who matter, and democracy is all concerning the ‘will of the individuals.’ However sadly, it’s the opposite approach round in present-day India beneath Modi jee.
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed on this piece are the author’s personal and do not essentially mirror Geo.television’s editorial coverage.
