There is a thin line between chauvinism and nationalism, and Indian cricketers ignored that completely. The brinkmanship exhibited in Dubai by Suryakumar Yadav and his boys at the Asia Cup match against Pakistan on Sunday is unbecoming of the gentleman’s game, and simply goes on to vindicate as to how jaundiced the bilateral relations have turned. The refusal to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, on the eve of toss and after the match, and subsequently the victory speech of the captain vetted in venom confirms radicalism in vogue among Indian sportsmen too. That was well in line with the disgust and otherness of the Hindutva-driven dispensation in New Delhi. It is quite unfortunate that India has crossed the brink of etiquettes and decency, as its cricket board and players declare from the pulpit their animosity towards Pakistan, stating that they are in the field merely for the compulsions of ICC conventions and not out of free will. If that is the case, the boys and their supervisors should also be reminded that goodwill gestures such as compassion towards fellow-players, greetings and humility in adversity are canons of sportsmanship.
Pakistan has rightly called for the expulsion of the match referee who looked the other way as transgression was evident on the field. That behaviour was tantamount to violations of the ICC Code of Conduct pertaining to the spirit of cricket. Likewise, Yadav’s stunt to attribute the victory to Indian armed forces and recall the gory episode of Pahalgam were in utter dis-state and have surely not won a constituency among game lovers. It could, however, bring him and his like-minded hawks some dividends at home, but in the long-run it will always be remembered as a foul play. Bringing war hysteria – as part of attempts seeking to level India’s loss to Pakistan in the four-day armed duel in May – to the cricket turf is the outcome of a myopic mindset. Let cricket be on its own and not be dragged in politics. If India has issues with Pakistan, which is rather eager to reinvigorate bilateral cricket ties, then let it have the balls to stay out of tournaments where Green Shirts are in action.
