India vs Pakistan Cricket Series ?

Sometime back there were talks of renewing cricketing ties between India and Pakistan which eventually got shelved because of the tense relations between the two countries. Pakistan on one hand wants to continue sponsoring, supporting terrorism against India and on the other hand wishes to have cricketing and other cultural ties with us. We cannot shake hands laden with the blood of our people, and that’s the stand we need to maintain all the time until Pakistan learns to be civil and act like one. Until yesterday, I thought the madness of renewing cricketing ties with Pakistan have died down, but BCCI sprang a surprise and was scheduled to talk to PCB for the same. This time it was to accommodate a short series between the two nations and not a full blown series as discussed earlier. Now what difference does it make really? This is as good as saying we won’t hug our nemesis, enemy but just shake hands. I, like many fail to understand why BCCI is so eager to have a cricketing series with Pakistan when they know the emotions of Indian cricket lovers are not in favor.

The Outburst

Finally it happened which was bound to happen. BCCI was about to host PCB at the Mumbai office to take the ties further and chalk out a plan for a mini-series. Shiv Sena protestors barged into the office and shouted slogans against the BCCI officials and Pakistan and created a ruckus. This continued for a while and the meeting between the two boards was cancelled. Now many felt this act on the part of the Shiv sainiks was against democracy and was an example of hooliganism etc. There was lot of hullaballoo in the media on the behavior of the errant sainiks and a cry to admonish, incarcerate them only increased. Personally I am not someone who would appreciate what they did, there can be better ways to present one’s anger, angst against something you don’t like. Having said that, the current emotion in India is against having any cricketing, cultural ties with Pakistan, who time and again is indulging in transgression against India, killing innocent Indians and our army men. There is no diplomacy which allows violence on one hand and cultural, sporting ties on the other, at least not with India. Its high time BCCI understands the sentiments of people of India and not stretch this any further, for if they continue, they would do at their own peril.

The Opportunists

Many past cricketers from Pakistan have deplored the behavior of the Sainiks and have urged to continue friendly ties with India. Zaheer Abbas says, let’s keep politics and sports separate. Is that so? You want cricketing ties with India so that your bankrupt board survives and on the other hand your government also won’t budge and continue with anti-India propaganda, sponsor terrorism and kill our people. This is not something we Indians would like and allow, so you better keep your views to yourself. There are many elite on the India side as well who are more interested in candy floss diplomacy with the Pakistanis and entertain them at any opportunity or support their views. I would suggest these so called elitists, to stop being selfish and pretentious and for once take notice of the sentiments of the people of India, and, at least try to feel the angst of the families who have lost their members of family to Pakistani bullets and terrorism. It would be great service to our own people. While I say this, express my feelings, I don’t want to sound like a killjoy who is a war monger. My only thought is, the other party understands and reciprocates our feelings and create atmosphere of positiveness, brotherhood and give away hostility,  and soon we would see a full-fledged India Vs. Pakistan cricket series.