The media here has taken it as a “humiliation” that franchises at the players’ auction on January 19 in Mumbai ignored Pakistani cricketers for the third edition of the Indian Premier League this year.
“No buyer for Pakistani cricketer!” a ticker at the country’s widely-watched TV channel ran. And expert after expert—former Test cricketers, in this instance—were invited to seek their opinion as TV channel are wont to do. It did not come as a surprise to find a nationalistic flavour during the course of discussion on the treatment of the Pakistani cricketers when it takes place in context of India and Pakistan relations.
TV commentators argued since Pakistan is the world champion of T20 version of the game ignoring “champion players” speaks of what usually described in Pakistan as “Indian prejudice” towards its smaller neighbour(s). The poor member states of SAARC suffer because of these giant neighbours do not have cordial political and diplomatic relations among themselves.
It should have been expected from the Indian franchises in the backdrop of Mumbai attacks in 2008. It may have been difficult choice to bid for a Pakistani player at a time when Islamabad and New Delhi are not coming closer to each other over the question of terrorism.
However poor the reasons given to justify ignoring the Pakistani players may sound, getting visa would be a separate issue. The Indian franchise also denied the Indian lovers of the game a chance to see their favourite Pakistani cricketers who, no doubt, have fans in India.
If sport is kept away from politics there can be good chances to help improve relations between the two countries. In India-Pakistan case, cricket has always played a major role in bridging gaps and differences in the past. Cricket diplomacy has been proven an effective tool in bringing the two nuclear-armed states closer.
India is the world’s biggest democracy, agreed. The neighbours, however, have not been beneficiary of this opportunity. In the case of Pakistan, New Delhi has good relations with Islamabad when a military dictator rules Pakistan. However, these relations sour when the people’s government takes charge of the country. It is much like how Washington place sanctions on Islamabad when a civilian set-up is in control of the country and these sanctions are removed when military takes over.
Greater interaction at people-to-people level will make the two countries come closer to each other. And sportsmen can only make these bonds stronger. However, in absence of any Pakistani cricketer at the third edition of IPL will allow other forces, on both sides, to widen these gaps and rivalry between India and Pakistan. This will also make other SAARC member countries suffer as the two bigger countries in their region will grow militarily and consequently public spending on health, education and environment will shrink.
But New Delhi alone cannot be blamed for all the deterioration in its relations with Islamabad. The Pakistani mindset about eastern neighbour has to change from “enemy” to “friend”, and the two countries should sit together to resolve political disputes. What is striking is the American government attitude. It is not readying to play a role in helping the two countries with which it has good relations. What is said in public is not what you intend to do. This is sadly what global politics is all about.
The January 19 auction sidelining Pakistani cricketers will certainly hit peace-lovers hard in both India and Pakistan and allowing to creep into sports will not prove a good experiment. More than losing some bucks by Pakistani plays or an insult to national pride, The January 19 action is a loss of an opportunity for these neighbours to make an overture to peace.
