India-Pakistan cricket matches : some questions!

[Vijay.Sharma]

:cantstop: All this^^ is absolute hogwash mere conjecture. Do not underestimate the Indian voter. Minority or majority, he (she) stands to gain nothing from this series. You think votes are so easy to get by. Anyways, the basic premise in your post is based on an assumption that is flawed. The Congress party is guilty of pampering the Muslim community, to an extent, but this move has nothing to do with 'appeasement'. Its probably an underhand deal of a few Babu's in the GoI with the BCCI on profit sharing from the proceeds. As much as I'm against the abrupt resumption of this series, what you propose will only make the ICC take action against India/BCCI.

Mariyam, don't be naive. The only reason the Govt of India will agree to BCCI's proposal is due to vote bank politics. The general Indian voter has always voted on lines of caste, religion, and regional traits - if you do not acknowledge this then there is not much we can talk about on this aspect. Edit - In fact, Mariyam, I would like to know what your stance is on playing this bi-lateral series against Pakistan

[sanath123]

NO you should not resume. You should play with Pakistan team & you have to won the game. I am saying as per my experience.

[Texy]

NO you should not resume. You should play with Pakistan team & you have to won the game. I am saying as per my experience.

O hi Jayasuriya! how was the dance experience on Jhalaak Dikhlaa ja :hmmm:

[Mariyam]

Mariyam, don't be naive. The only reason the Govt of India will agree to BCCI's proposal is due to vote bank politics. The general Indian voter has always voted on lines of caste, religion, and regional traits - if you do not acknowledge this then there is not much we can talk about on this aspect.

You misunderstand. No one is denying that there are vote banks and people tend to vote on the lines of religion/catse or for parties that espouse a very parochial linguistic chauvinist outlook. Neither am I denying that Congress has, traditionally, tried to appear as a party that makes concessions to/ appeases Muslims in order to gain votes. Whether or not those concessions really amounted to anything that the community benefited from is another debate altogether. What I am questioning is your assumption that restoring cricket ties with Pakistan is appeasement/ vote bank politics. What makes you think that restoring cricket ties with Pakistan is going to influence voting patterns of Indian Muslims? How do you conclude that Indian Muslims ( or the majority of them) want cricket ties to be resumed with Pakistan?

Edit - In fact, Mariyam, I would like to know what your stance is on playing this bi-lateral series against Pakistan

I'm against restoring cricket ties with Pakistan abruptly, especially since nothing has changed since we decided to cut ties with them. I had posted my views on the other thread which was later closed. Here it is.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

i am in favor of having cricket matches with pakistan on the condition that there is no revenue sharing deal in place. if the pakis are as noble as they say they are, and motivated by no other reason than the desire to revive ties, they will agree to this. pakistan are free to play in india as long as the BCCI keeps all the money made from tv rights. fine by me. i don't really care about the political aspect of it. they have always been a terrorist infested shithole, and will be continue to be one in the future. cricket has no bearing on the state of a country and it's foreign policy

[Vijay.Sharma]

You misunderstand. No one is denying that there are vote banks and people tend to vote on the lines of religion/catse or for parties that espouse a very parochial linguistic chauvinist outlook. Neither am I denying that Congress has, traditionally, tried to appear as a party that makes concessions to/ appeases Muslims in order to gain votes. Whether or not those concessions really amounted to anything that the community benefited from is another debate altogether. What I am questioning is your assumption that restoring cricket ties with Pakistan is appeasement/ vote bank politics. What makes you think that restoring cricket ties with Pakistan is going to influence voting patterns of Indian Muslims? How do you conclude that Indian Muslims ( or the majority of them) want cricket ties to be resumed with Pakistan?

While it may not make much of a difference to the voters on the ground, IndoPak relations are (mis)used by all political parties for votes either as an appeasement to muslims (for those who believe in a muslim umma) or to non-muslims as a pseudo-patriotic move. I don't know if the average Indian muslim gets wooed by such tactics but I do know that many hindus feel good when politicians bash Pakistan immaterial of it translating to votes. I also know of my own muslim friends who feel good to hear some Paki bashing. It would be naive to deny (not saying you do) that there would be a sizable (read enough numbers to make it a vote bank) population of indian muslims who wish they were Pakis as there would be hindus and sikhs in pakistan who wish they were indians.

[Vijay.Sharma]

I read on cricinfo that Pak are actually looking to India as a potential "host" nation. I mean this has got to be the heights of arrogance. Does PCB think that the average Indian would be interested in going to a Test played by Pakistan without India as the other team? I actually want the PCB to schedule a series with some other country keeping India as the "host" nation. And this should be followed up with the Govt of India allowing visas to the third nation's squad whereas denying visas for all the Paki players (except any non-Paki nationals in their support staff). If GoI doesn't have the balls to do that then at least there should be a mass boycott by the corporate world from advertising in those matches. Plus there should be no spectators at the stadiums even if given free passes.

[Andrew Peter]

If the likes of Atif , Rahat and Ali Zahar can come to India to make the maximum of their talent , earn money and fame then whats wrong in allowing Afridi , Akmal to participate in the Ipl ? If its all about revenge then we must either deport every Pakistani National from the Indian soil or stop discriminating between their Musicians and Cricketers . It gives an impression that maybe the Musicians/Comedians from Pakistan are innocent but their Cricketers have a direct hand in Mumbai attacks so lets just sideline their Cricketers and isolate them as much as possible but maintain good ties with their non-cricketing celebrities . How is it ok for us to enjoy music composed by Pakistanis in our films but cheering the sixes hit by their Cricketers in Ipl remains a big ' No No ' ?

[Vilander]

If the likes of Atif , Rahat and Ali Zahar can come to India to make the maximum of their talent , earn money and fame then whats wrong in allowing Afridi , Akmal to participate in the Ipl ? If its all about revenge then we must either deport every Pakistani National from the Indian soil or stop discriminating between their Musicians and Cricketers . It gives an impression that maybe the Musicians/Comedians from Pakistan are innocent but their Cricketers have a direct hand in Mumbai attacks so lets just sideline their Cricketers and isolate them as much as possible but maintain good ties with their non-cricketing celebrities . How is it ok for us to enjoy music composed by Pakistanis in our films but cheering the sixes hit by their Cricketers in Ipl remains a big ' No No ' ?

so are you saying we should allow their cricketers in as well or should be send their musicians back as well. Dont say either specify your preference.

[Cricket Tragic]

I read on cricinfo that Pak are actually looking to India as a potential "host" nation. I mean this has got to be the heights of arrogance. Does PCB think that the average Indian would be interested in going to a Test played by Pakistan without India as the other team? I actually want the PCB to schedule a series with some other country keeping India as the "host" nation. And this should be followed up with the Govt of India allowing visas to the third nation's squad whereas denying visas for all the Paki players (except any non-Paki nationals in their support staff). If GoI doesn't have the balls to do that then at least there should be a mass boycott by the corporate world from advertising in those matches. Plus there should be no spectators at the stadiums even if given free passes.

I don't see that happening tbh.

[Crookbond]

Why does cricket have to be a tool of politics?

Evolved nations don't use cricket, or any sport, as a means of showing dissent or consent. Besides, when we attach goodwill to such a tour, cricket ceases to be just a game. This series is already more than a contest between 22 individuals of two countries. When a match becomes bigger than the game itself, the pressure increases manifold. I distinctly remember the pressure we, as a team and individuals, were under during the 2004 series in Pakistan. When cricket appears on the front pages of national dailies, you know that you're walking a tightrope. It was almost a given that if we failed on that tour, our houses would be vandalised and effigies of us would be burnt. We could not help but think about the safety of our families back home. Exaggerated reaction, you think? Not after what happened to the houses of Mohammad Kaif and other players following India's poor showing in the first half of the World Cup in 2003.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/573219.html

[Vilander]

there is some strength in this argument, from a sport persons perspective definitly. But i am interested in knowing an evolved nation, that played bilateral sporting events with a hostile nation. did UK host bilateral events with Germany ( WC matches and olympics do not count). did the us hold bilateral events with japan ? did iran and iraq have bilateral sport events.. i dont know, but seems like nations do not like to have sporting events with hostile nations.

[achilles]

We are out of our minds to host that retard of a nation, when the only thing the people think about out there is to harm us.

[Vilander]

IMO we can play wit Sl and BD even AF, but not Pak.

[Ultimate_Game]

I would love to know from the author which "evolved" nation played with another who was waging a war against the "evolved" nation. Did UK play a bi-lateral footie series when during Falklands war? Did US host Iraq (or Vietnam & Korea) when US was waging a war with them? Did we have a "European Cup" at the height of 2nd World War to prove sport & politics shouldn't mix? It's height of naivity to think that sports and politics don't mix. IMO it's unaccaptable to think that a friendly sporting relations can be maintained with a nation that's trying to undermine your very existence.

[the don]

he is being overly dramatic with the effigies being burnt part , the 2004 series was played in a good spirit , similarly i dont remember any effigies being burnt when india lost the 2006 series. people usually tend to go overboard when relations are sour which in india, pakistans case is more often than not .

[achilles]

Aakash is just getting carried away by the emotional blackmail from across the border. No biggy. People fall for the Paki sweet talk at times.

[Sarkar]

Why are North Indian Cricketers so desperate to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan? Dhoni Bedi Akash Chopra

[Sachin=GOD]

As I said earlier in another thread, there's no point in simply stopping one particular sport while we continue to have diplomatic relations with Pakistan. It won't achieve anything.

[Tiger80]

Why are North Indian Cricketers so desperate to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan? Dhoni Bedi Akash Chopra

Are you on crusade against North Indians?