pay-back time for the government to send
a message to Modi to not get into a direct
confrontation with the government as he
did last year. The sad fact of the matter
is that Modi is becoming bigger than the
event…And this is a peril for IPL
The franchise haven’t come out in
the open with a vivid explanation for the
non-inclusion of Pakistani players in their
teams but some of them have referred the
unanimous decision to ‘security issues’
which they won’t be able to provide
nor is the government ready to guarantee
for any players. But home minister P.Chidambaram’s
comment that the non-selection of Pakistani
players was a ‘disservice’ to
cricket has punched a big hole in the explanation
given by the franchises.
The IPL fiasco has united the political
fraternity, cricketers & the people
of Pakistan. This move has given the government
of Pakistan the much needed ammunition to
attack the Indian government. The saddest
aspect of the whole event is that the people
across the border have perceived as political
decision with the backing of the Indian
people. Though the Indian media & the
Indian cricket fraternity has condemned
the whole event...
Lalit Modi handled this situation in a very
abysmal manner. Ideally, the IPL along with
all the franchises should have issued a
statement to the Pakistan cricket board
before the auction itself that they won’t
be able to include the players in the auction
as the franchises won’t be able to
provide security for the players. Altleast
by doing this the dignity of the players
would have remained intact. No doubt that
some clamor would have been raised by the
Pakistan cricket board or even the government
but atleast the players would not have felt
humiliated.
Another loser is IPL the tournament itself.
The fact that IPL projects itself is a fusion
of cultures where there are no political
boundaries, racial divide or religious conflicts
have been contradicted by this very event.
History is a testimony that cricket has
played a pivotal role in bringing both the
nations together. Whether it was the standing
ovation for the Pakistan team after it beat
India in Chennai in 1999 or the stupendous
welcome for the Indian team when it visited
Pakistan in 2004. IPL had the golden chance
to recreate that magic but alas! They have
dropped it… Even art & culture
has been instrumental in bridging the divide.
Bollywood movies and actors are a rage in
Pakistan while Pakistani singers are admired
by Indians…Art, culture and especially
cricket have bolstered the warmth &
affection between the citizens of both countries.
But if we start using them as tools for
fighting a diplomatic war then the situation
will deteriorate even more. And this is
exactly what the terror groups in Pakistan
& the rightist groups in India want.
They want to create a situation where even
people to people link breaks and creates
more acrimony between the two sides.
The only silver lining is the stand taken
by the Indian government which at least
by condemning the handling of the whole
issue has send the message that it is fighting
a war against terrorists operating out of
Pakistan not the people or cricketers of
Pakistan…It’s high time that
the likes of Modi look beyond commercial
interest as that will enhance the reputation
of Indian cricket & the sport itself….
IPL 3 might go on raking big bucks and once
the TRP’s kick in the whole episode
would be forgotten but no global cricket
tournament is complete with out the representation
of all the cricketing giants…The IPL
sheen would be missing this time around
thanks to the absence of Pakistani players…
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