Pakistan now has the upper hand because it has travelled twice recently for ICC events, while the BCCI is in a difficult position, writes Rashid Latif. (Express Archives)
Rashid Latif
Nov 16, 2024 10:18 IST First published on: Nov 16, 2024 at 12:17 IST
As per the International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines, all teams are required to participate in ICC events hosted by any member nation. This is not new. Pakistan recently travelled to India for the 2016 T20 World Cup and, more recently, for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Last year, the then Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi consulted the Pakistan government, and when the ICC cleared the security situation, the team was given the green light to play in the ODI World Cup. The big question isn’t why India is refusing to come to Pakistan but on what grounds is it unwilling to play in Pakistan. I feel the PCB’s questioning of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is completely valid.
This is not a bilateral tournament. If India doesn’t come, it should face consequences. I can’t speak on behalf of the PCB, but I believe that moving forward, the ICC should refrain from awarding Pakistan hosting rights if this is the outcome. The PCB should also take a firm stand if India refuses to play in the Champions Trophy. My issue is with the ICC. If India was never going to travel to Pakistan, why did it award Pakistan the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy? Pakistan now has the upper hand because it has travelled twice recently for ICC events, while the BCCI is in a difficult position. If security were a concern, then the ICC should make that determination. If other nations consider the security adequate, then I don’t see India’s problem. This appears to be politically motivated, especially given that some state elections are coming up in India.
My main concern is the divide this scenario is creating between the younger generations. It is already significant. Tensions between the two countries have always existed, but India and Pakistan have played bilateral cricket in the past. I remember the 1978-79 series when India came to Pakistan. Sunil Gavaskar scored brilliant centuries in both innings and despite his extraordinary effort, India lost the Karachi Test by eight wickets, losing the series 2-0. In that series, the legendary Kapil Dev made his debut in Faisalabad. The current generation on both sides of the border would relish seeing Virat Kohli and Babar Azam playing Test cricket in Delhi and Lahore.
The ICC is the only entity benefiting from this divide, profiting from India and Pakistan matches in the UK, Australia, and now the US, claiming that it’s to grow the sport’s popularity. But what about the fans in India and Pakistan who can’t afford to travel abroad? Don’t they deserve to watch these matches in their home cities?
India-Pakistan cricket is like a theatre. I can only appeal to the Indian cricket board to allow India to come and play. There may always be political tensions between our countries, and it affects both sides, but please, let cricket be something that can bridge the divide. If you look back, whenever there was a bilateral series between the two nations, leaders in New Delhi and Islamabad would come together at the time. Be it Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Nawaz Sharif, or Manmohan Singh, they didn’t interfere with cricket, seeing it as an opportunity to unite people. Now, electoral politics has taken centre stage in both countries, and anti-India or anti-Pakistan sentiments have turned into votes.
I have heard comments that the ICC is indirectly controlled by the BCCI. I don’t believe in this notion. It’s actually the broadcasters who dictate terms. They want to cash in on the hype, which is why India and Pakistan are placed in the same group in every ICC event.
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The PCB should make a strong case that they will also boycott ICC events hosted in India if India refuses to travel to Pakistan. India is set to host at least three or four ICC events (both men’s and women’s) in the next seven years. These are significant events, and Pakistan should use this leverage to ensure that if India doesn’t travel to Pakistan, it would likewise boycott events in India.
Backdoor diplomacy may be a final option, but for now, the ball is in the ICC’s court. There is no reason why India shouldn’t travel to Pakistan. But if the team doesn’t, as I mentioned earlier, the ICC should no longer award hosting rights to Pakistan.
The writer is a former Pakistan cricket captain. He played 37 Tests and 166 ODIs
