With India crushing the Pakistan cricket team on Sunday, it is the off-the-field action that has ignited a firestorm rather than the analysis of what was a tepid, one-sided match.
Col Utkarsh Rathore (Retd), who was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1980, commanded the 17 Maratha Light Infantry battalion during Operation Parakram, mobilisation of which took place after the Indian Parliament terror attack, said, “Animosity between India and Pakistan is extremely deep-rooted. It, of course, stems from a very serious issue… the export of terrorism by Pakistan. This has escalated sporadically… the terror attack and subsequently, Operation Sindoor, which cost the country lives.”
An undercurrent
Col Rathore rationalised, “Put a finger on the pulse of the nation pre-match and one could feel there was an undercurrent that we should not play against Pakistan. The BCCI, we are told, is bound by the ICC laws and has to respect the international calendar. We also learnt that the match referee was informed prior, there would be no handshake. In response, Pakistan also stayed away from the post-match presentation. Why crib now?”
The colonel reminded that India had not played Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends earlier. The veterans’ cricket match between India and Pakistan scheduled in the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham in July had been cancelled after Indian players withdrew citing the Pahalgam terror attack. “At that time, Shahid Afridi had a lot of bad things to say about India. Let me say this clearly, Pakistan is the last country in the world to be teaching others courtesy or to be gentlemanly.”
Pressure needed
Instead, the colonel suggested, “The Pakistan Cricket Board should pressurise their leaders/government to address concerns and stamp out this terror, as they are being insulted in all international forums. Will we see that happening? No, I do not think so.”
Having said that the colonel added that the country needs a policy that includes the playing against Pakistan aspect factored in. “Think about what is going through the mind of our soldier standing on the border. He thinks, here I am standing guard on the border while our players are playing against Pakistan. That is why we need a clear policy. The Government of India should also mull over this issue seriously. How can you play cricket with a nation with whom we had a major military showdown? We lost the lives of soldiers and civilians. We don’t have diplomatic, trade and other relations. This posture of convenience must stop till Pakistan mends its ways.”
The philosophy
Col Tej K Tikoo (Retd) added, “I was happy that they did not shake hands. Yet, this controversy needs a much larger look. First, that we should not have played in the first place. I understand that we do not play bilateral series, but then why play this too? It is not as if Pakistan is going to mend its ways. Their philosophy is to bleed India with a thousand cuts. They also threaten continually that they are a nuclear power and scare people. They say if we go down, we will take half the world with us. There is a limit to what India can do even with war.
On the sports field, there have been a number of international events where opponents have not shaken hands. I also do not agree with the argument that this is an ICC event and we had to play. But then, if you are going by the ICC norms, shaking hands is also decided by the ICC.”
Lt Col M K Choudhury (Retd) said, “We must respect the government’s decision. It was decided to play against Pakistan and we did, defeating the Pak cricket team in the most emphatic manner. As for not shaking hands, I know there are a lot of theories about who instructed the team, etc, but in the end, it is the captain’s prerogative. I think our captain has done the right thing with this gesture. Pakistan also knows that the world is watching. We need to stand united behind our people, and understand that befitting answers are being given by India.”
July
Month Indian players refused to play Pakistan at World Championship of Legends tournament in Birmingham
