As India and Pakistan meet for the first time in the Asia Cup summit clash, a match broadcasters and advertisers dream of, with the game assuring eyeballs, moolah and plenty of emotion, here’s hoping it’s...
India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Agha. PICS/AFP
The final of the Asia Cup will be an India vs Pakistan affair. It’s the scenario that broadcasters and advertisers dream of, as they are assured of great numbers of eyeballs. Amazingly, the two teams will be clashing in the final of the Asia Cup after 41 years. They of course play in the earlier rounds, as after what happened in the ICC World Cup in the Caribbean in 2007 where both teams, who were expected to meet in the semi-finals, were knocked out in the earlier rounds itself. That led to loads of cancellation of tickets and hotel bookings and even cruise ships, which were supposed to be like hotels had massive back outs. Everybody lost a lot of money. Since then, the draw for ICC and other events where both countries are participating is arranged in such a way that both are in the same group. This assures at least one game between the two countries. Even here, it is seen that the other teams in their group are weak teams so that there is no chance of a surprise upset like it happened in the 2007 Caribbean ICC World Cup. The other countries don’t object as they also realise that this clash is the one that generates the most viewership, which is what brings in the moolah that also funds their cricket.
Fireworks and hostility
In all other sports, the draw is done by rankings or seedings, but in cricket, it’s a different scenario whenever India and Pakistan are involved. While India-Pakistan clashes have always had fireworks about them, seldom have they been played in such a hostile manner as in this edition of the Asia Cup. There has been the occasional scrap between players in the past too, but nothing as nasty as what we saw last week. The supporters of both teams having a go at the opposition fielders near the boundary is common everywhere in the world and in different sports too. This time it was different with the fielders being bombarded with comments about the brief war. The narratives in both countries about the war being what they were, the gestures and taunts alluded to the result as the countries had put out to their people. While to think that sport and politics should not mix is a far-fetched dream, what was seen in last Sunday’s match certainly made a strong case to not play against Pakistan in any sport, but particularly in an emotionally charged game like cricket.
While people will give instances of countries not participating in Olympics, World Cups and such like the one striking example of India not playing another country was in the Davis Cup Final. India were a very strong tennis country then with the Amritraj brothers at the top of their game. The final was to be against South Africa in that country. This was the time when our passports carried the instructions that they were not valid for travel to South Africa and Israel. South Africa practiced apartheid then and were boycotted in the sporting world. Even if the world Boycott hadn’t been there, India was never going to play against them, especially in their country. So, India didn’t send its team and South Africa won the Davis Cup. India had a really strong team and had an excellent chance of winning the title which is equivalent to winning a World Cup. After that, no Indian tennis team has got anywhere close to winning the Davis Cup. India took a principled stance and thus forfeited a golden opportunity to win the Davis Cup.
ICC imposes fines
The fines imposed by the ICC match referee on the Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav for his comments after the first match may be contested by the BCCI. Their chances of succeeding are slim, for the ICC rules specify no political comments, gestures or placards are allowed at a game. Earlier too, players from other countries have been either fined or warned for coming out with political comments. This is being written on the eve of the final. Here’s hoping it’s a nail biting one with great cricket but none of the actions that didn’t do anything other than damage this great game of ours.
Won’t stop anyone from expressing emotions: Agha
As Pakistan brace themselves for an intense Asia Cup final, skipper Salman Ali Agha has struck a defiant tone — both on his team’s approach and their intention to express raw emotions on the field. Haris Rauf’s provocative gestures in earlier games had sparked plenty of debate, but Agha refused to rein in his fast bowlers, saying aggression is part and parcel of their trade. “Every individual has the right to express emotions. If we stop a fast bowler from showing emotions, what’s left then? I won’t stop anyone as long as it is not disrespectful,” Agha asserted, his words laced with conviction, on the eve of the title match.
Professional Management Group
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