The Board of
Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) agreed to host a One-Day International
Cricket Series with Pakistan
in India
this December. The decision was taken at meeting held in New Delhi today. The series will consist of
three one-day internationals (ODI) and two T20 matches. The ODIs are likely to
be held in Delhi , Kolkata and Chennai while the
shortest games in Bangalore
and Ahmedabad.
The landmark
decision means the two greatest rivals in cricket lore will be having a
bilateral cricket series after a gap of five years. The last bilateral series
was hosted by India too in 2007 when India
won both the one-day and the Test series. The decision comes after persistent
requests by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in recent months. The PCB wanted
bilateral cricket series to be played either in Pakistan
or in neutral territories, but the BCCI was not in favor of playing Team India in Pakistan . The cricket link between
the two countries snapped after the horrific Mumbai terror attack in 2008 and Pakistan ’s
consistent policy of denial and contradictions.
The landmark
decision means the people of the two countries now need not wait for either the
World Cup or the Asia Cup to relish the classic encounters between their
favorite teams. This means a new beginning in opening up cricket ties between
the two neighboring and yet strife-torn countries.
The landmark
decision has also started the politics of the game of cricket. While the PCB welcomed
the initiative wholeheartedly the Congress of the Indian ruling coalition and
the opposition alliance partners, the BJP and the Shiv Sena, had opposed
the BCCI decision. The Congress in Maharashtra
requested for considering people’s sentiments while the Shiv Sena has
continued with its traditional anti-Pakistan stand, though in IPL-5 when ex-Pakistan
cricketer Azhar
Mahmood was playing in the party’s headquarters, Mumbai, it preferred to
remain silent. The main opposition party BJP too decided to oppose while it’s
most prominent veteran and the leader of the opposition in the upper house of
Indian Parliament was very much a part of the BCCI decision. Surprisingly, the
legendary little master of Indian cricket, Sunil Gavaskar, had criticized BCCI
for the initiative. He held that as a person belonging to Mumbai he could not
support reviving Indo-Pak cricket ties in view of Pakistan ’s obstinate non-cooperation
in the Mumbai terror attack investigations.
Politics and
critique apart, the cricket lovers of both countries would definitely rejoice
at the prospect of the titanic clashes about to unfold. Of course, one cannot wish
away national interest and the dangers to it, but cricket between the two
countries is sure to strengthen the national spirit in both which in turn is
expected to strengthen strained relations. Pakistan would do much better by
coming out boldly on anti-terror initiative and ending its eternal mode of
denial.
Cheers for
cricket and better neighborly relations!
