“In these two nations, cricket is not just a game.”
SAMAN SHAFIQ IS CURRENTLY IN THE USA
- If past patterns are any guide, around half a billion people are expected to witness India against Pakistan in a cricket match that is frequently referred to as “bigger than war.” In front of over 34,000 spectators, the two archrivals and neighboring nations will square off on Sunday at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island, New York.
- Before the huge game on Saturday in New York City, former player, and Indian Cricket Team head coach Ravi Shastri remarked, “You don’t get a bigger game than India-Pakistan, when it comes to eyeballs, when it comes to people at the ground and interest around the globe.” “It’ll be one heck of a spectacle.”
- In a previous post for the International Cricket Council, Shahid Afridi, the former captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team and tournament ambassador, referred to the next game as “our Super Bowl” and compared it to the rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
- In an earlier interview with USA TODAY, CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Geoff Allardice referred to the India-Pakistan encounter as “one of the greatest rivalries in the world of sport.”
- Here’s a summary of the reasons why the penultimate encounter between India and Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 is the most anticipated of the competition.
- Cricket: A sport entangled in political narratives
- When asked why this game is so unique, former Indian cricket player and tournament ambassador Yuvraj Singh replied, “It’s because of our history,” on June 1 during the opening of the ICC Fan Park at the World Trade Center in New York.
- Pakistan’s 1952 Test series visit to India marked the first time that India and Pakistan faced off following their simultaneous 1947 independence from the British colonial empire. Three wars later, political tensions and animosity between the two nuclear-powered nations have frequently translated onto the field, even though things may not have been tense back then.
- Veteran Indian sports journalist Rishabh Sharma, who has covered over ten bilateral international cricket matches, compares it to going to combat.
- “Cricket is more than just a game in these two countries,” Sharma stated in an interview with USA TODAY. “It’s followed by millions and millions of people with a passion almost like a religion.”
- In agreement with Sharma, Shastri told USA TODAY that cricket is a religion “in our part of the world.”
“When you’re born, it’s as if you know how to hold a cricket bat or a ball,” stated Shastri.
- In the subcontinent, politics and cricket are closely related, and when one falters, the other does too. Political tensions therefore have a detrimental effect on sport, and outside of international competitions like Sunday’s Twenty20 encounter, the two nations hardly ever get to face each other.
- “One reason for this encounter to become so significant and high voltage is the political and diplomatic relations of these two countries and as both the countries are obsessed with just one sport this game catches the eyes of everyone,” says Faizan Lakhani, a Pakistani journalist. The most recent of Lakhani’s seven ICC matches between Pakistan and India was the 50-over World Cup held in India in 2023.
- The news that Indian players are prohibited from participating in T20 tournaments worldwide by the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) only heightens the expectation. In addition, Pakistani players are prohibited from playing in the world’s most profitable cricket competition, the Indian Premier League, as a result of the 2008 Mumbai Terror Attack, which India holds accountable for Pakistan.
- Speaking to USA TODAY, former cricket player and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Ramiz Raja stated that feelings stoked by diplomacy and politics raise the stakes in the game.
- When asked what makes the game special, Raja responded, “It is because of the political needle number one and number two, because both teams have got gifted talent.” Thirdly, because feelings are at play.
- “There’s so much at stake, and because people and the fans are invested emotionally, it’s a sport that binds countries in their halves together,” Raja stated.
- The 11 players on each team are under tremendous strain because of the massive stakes in the game and the emotions of millions of people relying on a small group of guys.
- In his ICC blog, Afridi stated, “Against India, it is about handling the pressure of the occasion.” “There is so much talent in both teams, they just need to put it together on the day.”
- To safeguard their mental health and make sure they are in a positive mood on match day, players on the Indian Cricket Team are completely prohibited from interacting with fans, the media, and even social media in the days preceding the match, Sharma told USA TODAY.
- Losing the World Cup may be acceptable to supporters of both nations, but losing to Pakistan or India is intolerable since it ultimately comes down to pride and honor.
Good game
- The excitement for the game is fueled by political turmoil and patriotism, but the caliber of the matches also attracts people from around the world. Raja makes the argument that both nations’ squads are full of talented players. Sharma goes on to say that Pakistan has some of the most formidable bowlers in cricket history, while India has a potent batting lineup. This dynamic creates the perfect environment for a contest that will keep fans on the tip of their seats because it will be unpredictable and “exhilarating,” as Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar puts it.
- A doctor who traveled from Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad specifically for the game, Syed Murtaza Kazmi, described the rollercoaster ride of emotions that a cricket fan experiences during a match. There’s a surge of increased patriotism that begins with weeks of build-up. Talking with pals on other sites about tactics and potential results becomes into a daily habit.”
- “As soon as the game starts, adrenaline and excitement take control. Anxiety and joy are felt with every ball bowled and every run scored. Depending on whose team you’re supporting, when a wicket falls, it may feel like a heart-stopping moment followed by either joyful celebrations or profound despair,” he continues.
- A player from Pakistan celebrates taking out US captain Monank Patel in the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2024 group stage. An American-Vietnamese cricket match Displays more
- Via GETTY IMAGES, ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP
- “Not simply an additional game”
- The fact that tickets for the India vs. Pakistan match were the most expensive throughout the T20 World Cup may also be explained by fans’ excitement for the event and the rarity of such matches.
- Cricket enthusiasts are anticipated to pack the newly built Nassau County Stadium despite the expensive admission fees.
- In a video posted on X, Pakistani cricket analyst Fakhr-e-Alam revealed that he was on a flight from Dubai to New York with a lot of Indian and Pakistani cricket enthusiasts.
- Fans who traveled from Islamabad to New York in less than a day, such as Kazmi, view the game as “not just another game; it’s a spectacle that captivates millions.”
- “This rivalry which is already rooted in historical, political, and cultural contexts, makes every encounter electrifying,” adds Kazmi. “The passion and fury on both sides create an atmosphere that is unparalleled in any other game.”
- During a practice session at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on September 1, 2023, India’s Virat Kohli converses with Pakistan’s Shadab Khan. Display more
AFP / ISHARA S. KODIKARA / GETTYIMAGES
- In the words of Afridi, the “Pakistan-India cricket rivalry is one of the fiercest due to the shared history and political backdrop, passionate fan bases, and unforgettable matches over the years.”
- Whatever the political situation may be, though, it doesn’t seem to affect the players, who are frequently observed bonding off the field or during practice sessions, demonstrating that, at the end of the day, no matter how high the stakes, it’s still just a game.
