Now, let cricket speak

At long last the niggling irritants in the forthcoming Indo-Pak cricket series seem to have been sorted out by the cricket boards of both countries and the sub-continent can once again settle down to some gripping cricket. Ahmedabad will now host a one-dayer and even Narendra Modi is happy with that. So all those Shiv Sainiks skulking in the secret corners of that city with their shovels and messages of hate have better make themselves scarce. From now, politicians must pipe down. Let cricket speak.

Let us now re-live the spirit of the Friendship Series of March 2004. Those hordes of Indian fans waiting to make their border crossings with unbounded enthusiasm. The warmth with which ordinary Pakistanis welcomed Saurav Ganguly’s men — and in Karachi, most of all. The sporting manner in which they celebrated the Indian team making off with the Samsung Cup. The green flags of Pakistan bearing the crescent and star being waved along with the Tricolour — occasionally even stitched together and waved. The numerous cordial off-the-field encounters between the Indian visitors and their Pakistani hosts — taxi drivers, fruit juice vendors, hotel staff, even passersby. The time has now come for India and Indians to respond in equal measure and we certainly do not want out-of-work politicians queering the pitch.

Apart from the general atmospherics, there is another aspect too that needs highlighting. Both the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have a great deal at stake in the forthcoming series. Both have been in indifferent form of late and badly need to prove themselves. While Pakistan will certainly hope to wipe away the memory of last year’s 1-2 defeat and go back home with the victor’s cup, India would badly wish to prove creditably before a home crowd. All this should mean some great cricket, the absence of the Rawalpindi Express notwithstanding.