Willow talk — We can do without the self-appointed Shiv Sen

The resumption of a Test series between the two countries, after 13 years, is a dream come true for lovers of the game on both sides of the border. It has hardly seemed natural for the neighbours with this shared sporting passion to limit their cricketing encounters on their own turfs to those permitted as part of non-bilateral tournaments. If these have seemed remotely removed from cricketing relations, the Toronto trophy has not appeared like anything but a stop-gap arrangement of less than a Test-level status.

The coming two-Test event, which will continue the story from where Pakistan’s tour by an Indian XI under Krishnamachari Srikkanth left off, if conducted successfully, can pave the way for a full revival of the ties.

The itinerary, however, warns against over-optimism. If the cricket-lovers have won their case for a resumption of the relations, the venues announced represent a victory for Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. Conspicuous by absence among these is the cricketing capital of India itself. Meticulously omitted is not only Mumbai but all other centres in Maharashtra and even neighbouring Gujarat. None of these grounds has got even a warm-up match.

Maharashtra will, in fact, be a barred territory for Pakistani cricketers even in the subsequent Asia Test championship and the triangular one-day series (with India and Sri Lanka).

It is hard to resist the conclusion that the threats from Thackeray have been heeded. The Shiv Sena chief had, of course, started off by opposing the entire tour and vowing its prevention anywhere in the country. After the Prime Minister put his foot down on the issue, he retreated, but only partially. He declared Maharashtra out of bounds for the visiting team, and was endorsed by a deferential Chief Minister even while the Deputy Chief Minister demurred. A bluff of this kind deserved to be called by New Delhi.

Especially in view of the Pakistani side’s readiness to accept official Indian assurances on security. Even if this readiness was not really meant, it is not a creditable signal that has been sent out by the Centre’s compromise. One that would appear to accept the Shiv Sena’s prerogatives not only as the cultural commissar but as the controller of cricket in its preserve of Maharashtra. The message can only be amended by a more assertive stance by the arbiters of our cricketing destiny in the days to come.

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