Cricket lovers revel in thrill & savour India-Pak match

The keen India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, visible in the oft-repeated rant of ‘In Se Mat Harna’ (Do not lose to them), kept a large number of cricket lovers glued to the screen today. Those who did not have time to watch the proceedings on TV kept themselves updated over mobile handsets about the match which was played in Dubai.

Being a weekend, friends and relatives gathered at a common place to enjoy the pulsating tie which came after years. A cricket fan, Harvinder Singh, said the last time the arch-rivals clashed in this tournament was in 2107 in London when Pakistan beat India by 180 runs to win the trophy. He rued that no bilateral series came after the last time India and Pakistan had played against each other in 2012-13 when Pakistan toured India.

India-Pakistan matches remain the most eagerly watched cricket clashes. Since India does not play Pakistan in bilaterals anymore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments are the only opportunity for fans to watch the keen contests. The ICC website says that the Champions Trophy was earlier known as the ICC Knockout, when it was staged in Dhaka in its 1998 debut, and then in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2000. It was stopped after 2017.

The interest India-Pakistan cricket ties generate is not visible in any other sporting event. Taking a cue from the keen interest shown by public, references to this rivalry were found in biopics and advertisements to get viewership. Several Bollywood flicks portray the keen contest between arch-rivals India and Pakistan through scenes of their matches. A biopic on the life of Indian women cricket stalwart, Mithali Raj, dramatically portrays India’s win over Pakistan.

Of course, the India-Pakistan rivalry, rooted in history of both the countries, has found reflection far beyond the sport. A similar rivalry is not visible in other sporting events.

There is no denying that cricket has been used as a tool for diplomacy and to mend relationship between the two neighbours who fought several wars. Who knows that today’s match could pave the way for resumption of ties stalled after the 2019 Pulwama attack in Kashmir?