Pakistan and India are set to resume their cricketing ties after a five-year break later this year. According to statements issued by the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the neighbouring countries will play one-day international and twenty20 matches between December 23 and January 10.
India was due to tour Pakistan early 2009 but the tour was called off following the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai. While Pakistan and India played each other in international tournaments once each year from 2009 until 2012, a bilateral series between the countries was being sidelined. With security problems in Pakistan, there were little chances of India touring the country and there were reports of a neutral venue being considered for a series. Now, however, it has emerged that the series will be played in India and while there is a long way to go until the logistics and details of the series are confirmed until December, the bilateral cricket ties between both countries seem to be back on track.
While the series comes as a much needed ice-breaker, it remains to be seen how the news is received by the masses on both sides. Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has reportedly criticised the move by BCCI to confirm the series against Pakistan, basing his reaction on the Mumbai attacks.
Dawn.com invites its readers from both sides of the border to share their thoughts on the decision to resume bilateral cricket ties.
Should Pakistan and India resume their bilateral cricket ties?
How will the proposed cricket series help break the ice between the governments on both sides?
Is it a good idea to use a cricket match (or series) to bring together people of both countries, including their leaders, as was the case in Mohali last year?
Bad Idea!! there is no need to play when we cannot live together. Let’s learn to live together first.. fun comes later. There is such a deep mistrust after Kargil and Mumbai that the idea of playing Pakistan is distasteful and abhorrant.
Indo-pak relation cannot be improved until Pakistan punishes 26/11 terrorists.
Shame on BCCI and Indian Govt for allowing this series.
India should not resume ties with Pakistan and I am with Sunil Gavaskar, on this point. I am not at all against pakistani people or their passion for cricket. I work in a middlke east country and have many PAKISTANI friends and of course, they are nice but Pakistani people do not formulate policy of the state. These policies are driven by Army and politicians of Pakistan. Indian people are not comfortable with Pakistan because of not just Kargil or mumbai attacks but also with trust.
It is a fallacy in the minds of Pakistanis that resuming cricketing ties will improve relationship between the 2 countries on both levels. It will not because it requires 2 hands to clap and Hindus are not willing to join with Pakistanis to clap as yet because they are still smarting, and rightly so from that terrorist attack. I say: SHAME ON INDIAN GOV’T for agreeing to this tour shunning Hindu sentiments. And SHAME ON PAKISTAN for shamelessly accepting all BCCI demands. Pakistanis won’t complain but Hindus should exert pressure on their gov’t to scrap it. This will be a great favor for those Pakistanis who have some shame and no desire to see cricketing ties resume.
Not sure why you say Hindu sentiments. It is an Indian sentiment. Indian muslims are equally victims of mumbai attack and they would like to get justice too.
Komal, by saying Hindu he means Indians in general I suppose. We Indians: Hindus, Muslims, Sikh, Christians all alike are known as Hindus in Pakistan. Short form of Hindustani.
Thanks for the lecture. You are wrong in your assumption.
Perfect reply Komal
Shahid Afridi after defeat in Semi Final of World Cup speak ill of Indians in general(particularly Gautam Gambhir when he dedicated the Indian victory in world cup final to victims of Mumbai terrorist attack) while extolling the virtue of Muslims and it has enraged public sentiments in India.He could be security risk if he tours with Pakistani team.
This will for sure not happen as India is heading towards general election and any move by the govt: that smacks of anti nationalism will see them out of power for a good 5 years at least.
Pakistan’s can day dream as much as thy want but, they are not welcome in India.
Trust me my friend Pakistan has better things to day-dream about than playing cricket with India.
But your office bearers at PCB do not think so. They have been camping in India to convince BCCI to start the series. I do not blame them, they need money and without money there is no point in holding on to the PCB post.
Shame on Govt of India. They want to play with the people whose hand is red in the blood of innocent civilians of India
Sport is a sport and politics are politics. Lets keep the two seperate. By not playing cricket, who you are trying to prosecute? no one!
..and by the same token Indians should not be coming to the news sites of those “whose hand is red in the blood of innocent civillians of India”. Just use some sense.
So you’re saying that Misbah and co. are responsible for the 2008 mumbai attacks? hmm…
I second that, Indian politician esp from congress are total wimp. Even though I am not against the two team playing against each other but Pakistani team should not be allowed here until 26/11 culprits are punished.
I don’t support Indian govt’s decision to start the cricketing relations. We want certain answers from Pakistan on Mumbai attack. Till they are answered, Indian Govt. should have kept this decision on hold.
Decision should be reconsidered by indian government.. We love our people’s live more than cricket…we should not forget that there has not been any major terror attack or bomb blast in India for last 3 years….its good for India to have limited relations with pakistan..descision of playing cricket with pakistan should be kept on hold..
Agree with you. It is not possible to make family relation with all your neighbor.
No Sir. I love India Pakistan cricket matches but my dismay with Pakistan is pushing me into a crowd where I dont want to be. It will not help improve relationship between two countries the reason is simple- the rage in India over Pakistan’s inaction against November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks remains unabated. There are compelling evidences, the best you can have in a terror attack case, but still Pakistan needs a microscope to look at an elephant. You talk to a common Indian and you will know that. Cricket is not more important than human lives.
If you want to obfuscate the matter, it is a different thing, but , Am sure you know the support that India Pakistan cricket matches enjoyed in India and participation of Pakistan players in inaugural IPL edition.
It sounds like you you are the lead detective in Mumbai bombing case and you, yourself have seen all the “compelling evidences”. Dear everything is subjective so don’t loose sleep over it. If the evidences that solid then how come India does not use other international legal means to prosecute those behind the bombings? In any case, back to the topic of Cricket. People in both country enjoy the sport that’s all. Why deprive them?? It will bring good will among the people of both nations.
Absolutely right.
@Irfan. You deserve a break
Typical Pakistani attitude!!As long as people like you remain in Pakistan no real trust between India and Pakistan will evolve forget about cricket.I dont want to get into the details of the 6/11 attacks as it is well known but only “subjective evidence” for you people. A country needs to be righteous and honest to the bare minimum for itself to exist peacefully otherwise it is doomed to self destruction. Pakistan,make a self introspection if you can….
Righteous and honest………like India is righteous and honest? Which country can you exemplify as being righteous and honest? There’s no such thing. Its all about mutual interests. Righteousness and honesty is all relative.
Of course, if visa are issued to people. It’ll be a great opportunity for people to people contact. And it always help.
they shud have come, as ijaz butt was trying, and its nothing to make a hype over. our tours were going as scheduled… yet another series!nothing else.