Visa power

In this season of celebrating Indo-Pak cricket it seems that a key participant has been ignored. Miles of newsprint and hours of prime time have been given over to the players. Their patrons — in the respective national cricket boards and in the corporate and advertising world who are sponsoring the roadshow — have had their concerns addressed. But the spectators, it appears, must wait a while longer to join in. The chaos at the visa counter of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi reflects a wider trend: the gradual but comprehensive relegation of the spectator to the fringes in cricket today.

At first blush the confusion at the Pakistan mission is understandable. Never mind that the forthcoming cricket tour has been cast as a crucible of bilateral goodwill. It still takes place amidst rather abnormal circumstances. India and Pakistan are once again committed to peaceful dialogue, but the infrastructure for diplomatic niceties is still being put in place. Air, road and rail links have been re-established, but the modalities of enabling Indians and Pakistanis to venture into each other’s countries have not yet been ironed out. There is such intense — albeit needless — scrutiny of visa applications, the number of visas issued is kept within such paltry limits, that suddenly being asked to clear thousands of applications for a chance to watch India-Pakistan ties firsthand must have rattled Pakistani diplomats out of their leisurely routines. The efficiency with which the Indian and Pakistani governments now address the demands for visas and additional buses and flights will therefore be an indicator of their capacity to foster greater people-to-people contact.

However, the visa woes of eager fans must also be blamed on the two cricket boards. The BCCI and the PCB have shown themselves to be remarkably alert to the requirements of cricketers, telecasters and sponsors. The logistics of the tour have been addressed with the attention to detail that a space mission demands. Spectators, it is true, do not bring in the kind of money television audiences do, money that keeps global cricket spinning. But they are an essential in giving every match texture. Their presence lends authenticity to matches. Let’s not take them for granted.