CricDigs Blogs

So the day has finally arrived… and again. An India-Pakistan ODI game at the world stage. However they may try, but the captains and players cannot downplay the contest as just another game. Not for themselves… not for their fans.

Let me not discuss how this contest generates the undying passion and interest in the game. Let me also not discuss how having a game of cricket can diffuse the tension between the two otherwise unfriendly states. That is for all the cricket writers who have to be politically correct to keep their jobs going and their articles printed on the leading websites and newspapers. I want to ask the basic but probably the most controversial question: Should India be playing Pakistan in the first place?

Yeah … now the first thought in everyone’s (who is reading this) mind will be - We should not mix cricket and politics. That we should let cricket be a game and not convert it into a war. Right… I dont want a war… thats why I dont want this match to be played at all.

Not mix a game and politics? Tell this to the kin of the countless people who are killed everyday due to terrorism, not just in the northern part of India but also in Metros like Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, etc. I have to use the word ‘et cetera’ to list out the places where Pakistan sponsored terrorism has created havoc because if I start noting each such place, this entire blog will become unreadable.

I want to mix cricket and politics… because for me, the well-being of my countrymen is more important that a stupid unnecessary cricket match. On one hand, Pakistan wants to play Cricket with India, wants to run Samjhauta Express between the two countries… and on the other hand, they sponsor (not just sponsor, but actively participate in) cross-border terrorism and also nurture hatred towards its neighbour.

I want to mix cricket and politics… because I don’t want a country like Pakistan to keep making a fool out of India.

It is a good thing that India has refused to tour Pakistan and invite them for any cricket series. Anyway, any money generated by Cricket (and it is a LOT of money) will be going to finance those terrorist organizations.

Another ODI … another opportunity for diplomatic jargon … another way to mint money … another farce …