Cricket diplomacy has been used several times to thaw the ice in relations between India and Pakistan. Both Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf witnessed this practice. Cricket diplomacy was used as a medium to pave the way for peace talks between India and Pakistan. The ice thawed several times, but Pakistan-sponsored terrorism repeatedly soured relations. Despite tensions, cricket has consistently displayed sportsmanship and passion, but what unfolded in the Asia Cup cricket is a tragedy for the sport.
“Sportsmanship” refers to the ethical conduct and values a player demonstrates during play. This includes fairness, courtesy, love for the game, and respect for teammates and opponents. Good sportsmanship doesn’t just mean winning, but also enjoying the game, following the rules, and accepting both victory and defeat with dignity. Key elements of sportsmanship include: respecting opponents, coaches, umpires, and the rules of the game; striving to win at all costs; and playing the game with integrity. Maintaining dignity and treating members of the opposing team with respect, whether in victory or defeat. Taking responsibility for one’s actions and admitting mistakes if made. Loving the game and prioritizing the joy and excitement of the game. Supporting teammates and fostering a sense of unity. Sportsmanship is a multifaceted concept that encompasses ethical behavior and values in sports. It represents a balance between competition and fair play, promoting respect for opponents, rules, and the spirit of the game.
Haris Rauf also made a similar offensive gesture during an Asia Cup Super 4 match, drawing widespread criticism. Pakistani opener Sahibzada Farhan also made an AK-47-like gesture with his bat after reaching a half-century. This incident has sparked a debate in the sports world about whether players should be more careful in their behavior, treat the game as a game, and avoid personal overtures. However, the “no handshake” controversy has become more talked about than India’s victory.
Suryakumar Yadav shook hands with his teammate Shivam Dubey immediately after hitting the winning six. The Indian team refused to shake hands with the Pakistani players and went straight to the dressing room. Meanwhile, the Pakistani players waited for them on the field, but there was no response from Team India. Angered by this, Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema filed an official complaint with match referee Andy Pycroft. The controversy escalated further when Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha decided not to attend the post-match presentation. He also declined a broadcast interview with Sanjay Manjrekar. According to the PCB, he took this decision in protest of the Indian players’ behavior. After defeating Pakistan for the second time in the Asia Cup, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav urged everyone to stop calling matches between the two countries a meaningful “rivalry.”
Cricket deserves better. What happened in the Asia Cup has forced many of us who love the game to change our perspective. Continuing India-Pakistan cricket relations under the current circumstances would be detrimental to cricket. Pakistani women’s cricketer Nashra Sandhu recently made a gesture after taking six wickets in an ODI against South Africa that has sparked controversy. In the match played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Sandhu took six wickets, becoming the fastest Pakistani woman player to reach 100 ODI wickets. Following the match, she shared a photo on social media in which she gestured with six fingers. As the saying goes, it is a “gentleman’s game.” This is largely due to the elite playing it since its inception, as well as the sportsmanship and the emphasis on fair play. Over time, politics began to dictate whether a country played another country. While white nations like England, Australia, and New Zealand maintained cricketing ties with South Africa even during apartheid, black nations, inspired by India, did not do so until the country’s executive capital, Pretoria, adopted multiracial equality as official policy. While the world was divided on the issue, developing countries appreciated India’s stance. India even sacrificed the 1974 Davis Cup final against South Africa to stick to its stance.
Now, let’s talk about the tension between India and Pakistan. The last bilateral Test series between the two countries was in 2006-07, and the last limited-overs series was in 2012-13. Since the BJP returned to power under Narendra Modi’s leadership in 2014, there has been no bilateral series with Pakistan, although Pakistan has participated in limited-overs tournaments due to ICC (International Cricket Council) commitments. Earlier this year, after India refused to play ICC Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board threatened not to visit India for upcoming ICC events. If politics and sports are to be kept separate, to which the answer is no, then why the unsportsmanlike drama of not shaking hands? Initially, there was debate about whether India should play matches with Pakistan, and public opinion was divided on this issue. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players was an expression of the Indian public’s outrage against the brutal killing of 26 people in the Pahalgam attack. What the Pakistani players did was also shameful, especially in matches where tensions already exist between the two countries. Such incidents can further strain cricketing relations between India and Pakistan.
