Even as the fate of the Indian tour to Pakistan hangs in balance, and cricketers — former, current and everyone else — keep quiet about what they really feel, former India captain Ajit Wadekar expresses anger at politics, and political games, playing such an important role in the game. Speaking to The Indian Express, Wadekar also suggests that it would be difficult for the BCCI to back out at this stage. Wadekar, who never toured Pakistan as a player, says, ‘‘I don’t understand why there should be so much of political interest in cricket.’’ He also asks, ‘‘More importantly, when the Indian Prime Minister could go there (to Pakistan) and come back safely, why can’t the cricketers do the same?’’ Also in contrast to the worries of leading India players, Wadekar stresses that ‘this’ is the perfect time to tour Pakistan. ‘‘This is just the right time to tour Pakistan. We must understand that the onus is on them. It is they who have to provide us with fool-proof security, which they have promised. And make sure that none of the cricketers get into any danger.’’ Talk about the Indian government’s much-hyped ‘feel-good factor’ and the concern of elections being around the corner also puzzles Wadekar. ‘‘We have never won an individual gold medal at the Olympics and that has never affected the general elections. Then how come suddenly the cricket team’s performance is going to swing things is what I cannot understand. Cricket is of course a religion in India but the voters are knowledgeable and do not get swayed by such factors.’’ The stylish southpaw of the past also wants India to carry on the good work done in Australia, suggesting that with the kind of form the Indians are in at the moment, the Pakistanis should be the ones doing all the worrying. ‘‘We have done so well. The batting line-up is one of the best we’ve had over the years, so why worry? Three to four weeks lay-off (after the tour Down Under) is more than good enough for any international cricketer to bounce back.’’ While Wadekar is clear about his stance on the issue, few cricketers or cricket-related people are willing to stick their necks out at the moment. As this paper provided on Thursday (with opinions from a cross-section of former cricketers), playing in May would be akin to sending the players out to a gas chamber. The heat in Pakistan through May-June can’t be an appetising thought at all. But then it’s poll time, so nothing else matters.
