Pakistan cricket team has finally received a go-ahead sign by the government after Indian state government of West Bengal assured full security for Pakistani squad.
The decision came after chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee assured foolproof security to Pakistan’s men and women cricket teams during their stay in India for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20, following which, Pakistan High Commissioner to New Delhi Abdul Basit confirmed Indian Home Secretary's assurance that security would be provided to the visitors. The match which was initially supposed to take place in Dharamsala was moved to Kolkata when the Congress-led government of Himachal Pradesh seemed reluctant in hosting the match citing reservations over Pathankot tragedy.
As much as the decision to send Pakistan cricket team to India to participate in this year's cricket mega event would be a sign of relief for any cricket lover, it is extremely unfortunate that due to political tensions, India-Pakistan cricket has been suffering for a long period. As a die-hard follower of cricket for over 21 years now, I find it extremely annoying when I see governments of both countries include political tensions in sports. I fail to understand how the presence of Pakistani cricketers in India, most of whom hold massive following among Indian people, can in any way be a sign of "disrespect" for martyrs of the Pathankot incident?
Sri Lankan cricket team back in 2009 was directly attacked by the militants in Pakistan when they were touring the country. Even though the tour was called off, neither the Sri Lankan government nor its cricket board ever showed any reservations in playing cricket or even hosting Pakistan; maybe because they were sane enough to differentiate between terrorists and sportsmen. The militant outfit which masterminded the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers has also been involved in many terrorist attacks on Pakistani civilians, government and military officials. When Sri Lankan government can be logical enough to not equate Pakistani sports personalities with those bunch of militants who play with human blood, I fail to understand how hard it is to not equate Pakistani cricketers with the attackers of Pathankot incident.
There is absolutely no doubt that both countries have shared poisoned relations since the violent partition of Indian subcontinent in 1947. Both countries have fought four brutal wars, exchanged fire at LOC and violated international borders from time to time, adding fuel to the fire; but despite all these tensions, cricket has always been an exception. Fans of both countries have always been madly in love with cricket, which is why there has been overwhelming support for Sachin Tendulkar in Pakistan and immense respect for Wasim Akram in India. But over the years where political tensions have surpassed spirit of cricket, things seem to be going terribly towards the wrong directions.
In the past, both countries have witnessed worse bilateral relations than they have at the moment but they were never included in sports and cricket went on. In 1999, India and Pakistan played cricket when both countries were actually fighting Kargil War. In 1987, tensions were at peak yet Pakistan cricket team toured India which was followed up by a surprise visit of the then President of Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq to Jaipur, and it eventually helped in defusing political tensions.
Then once again in 1999, Pakistan went on to tour India despite Shiv Sena's serious threats against the tour who even ended up digging and vandalizing the cricket pitch. The tour went on and it was completed with Pakistan team receiving tremendous support and respect in India specially during the nail biting Chennai test which Pakistan won.
Sad that today, people seem to be so blinded by hatred, bigotry and nationalism that they can't separate sports and conflicts. It is historically evident that where United Nations failed, it was actually cricket diplomacy that helped defuse political tensions between India and Pakistan. I hope this spirit of cricket stays alive because even though these matches involve thrill, tensions, heartbreaks and emotions, at the same time, it is a force that unites the people of the sub-continent. No other cricketing rivalry pumps close to Indo-Pak rivalry, which is followed by over a billion people. It is more than just a sport for people of this region; it is a passion, a passion which is equally shared by people on both sides of the L.O.C.