India and Pakistan cricket: A step forward, yet a million back

Being a Bangalorean through and through, I had the dubious privilege to watch the last time India and Pakistan played each other in a Test match. All those years ago in the fall of 2007, India played hosts to Pakistan in the third and final Test match of the 2007/08 series. At the time, current Indian coach Anil Kumble was still the skipper of the side. Only two of the Pakistani players are a part of today’s Pakistan outfit.

The encounter was a fascinating one. It had everything. And by everything, I mean everything including rain, something that is rather customary in these parts of the world. What was even more interesting was the fact that these two sides had just come off extremely disappointing World Cups in the West Indies. While the Indians had crashed out in the group stages, Pakistan had lost their coach Bob Woolmer who had died in rather exigent circumstances.

The Indians had dealt with it by sacking their coach in the form of Greg Chappell, they also subsequently appointed MS Dhoni as the new Indian captain. Dhoni was the rising star and the captaincy was just viewed as a temporary role. Little did anyone realize that he would keep the role for the next seven years. Pakistan dealt with it in a similar fashion appointing Geoff Lawson as a coach and coming up a handful of runs short of India in the final in Johannesburg.

Both countries were divided in 1947. The rivalry on the field of play across different sports between both sides is simply unparalleled. When it comes to cricket, you would find fans passionate in both these countries like no other. The dearth of cricket in Pakistan has put a strain on these fans. Of course, one completely understand the reasons for not having cricket played in the country. Perhaps many have forgotten what a Pakistan fan looks like and how they chant each player’s name with a massive cheer.

While the world has forgotten all this and seemingly moved on from what is usually portrayed as the ‘death’ of the atmosphere in either a Karachi or a Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the Indians have moved on from strength to strength. It has been rather unprecedented in recent times. They have virtually been unchallenged on home territory. England, Australia, and even Sri Lanka, who are decent players and exponents of spin bowling, have found it difficult to crack the Indian nut in the Indian subcontinent.

Shortly after the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team, all of Pakistan’s matches were shifted to the UAE. It is a place that they still use as their base. Since then, Pakistan cricket has been wilting, unable to compete with the top dogs. Until of course the arrival of Mickey Arthur began to turn things around. Arthur has been a magnificent influence on the side, evidence of which can be found in the fact that they, in fact, made a successful ascent to the top of the summit of the Test Rankings.

What has been a consequence of all this has been a terrible fact that has seen the Pakistan Cricket Board do all in its power to stay afloat, something it has been barely successful in doing. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012, one which was clinched by Pakistan. Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan and a video released by the PCB speaking about their hospitality in Pakistan has seen little budge over the matter

At this point in time, there have been two incidents that have been rather shameful ones. A Virat Kohli fan in Pakistan was apprehended following Virat Kohli’s innings in the World T20 against Australia in the Lahore district. A Shahid Afridi fan was apprehended in Assam and was subsequently ‘Dealt with’ in a rather barbaric manner.

Yet, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, there was Mohammad Amir signing autographs while there was one particular individual sporting a Pakistani shirt with India skipper MS Dhoni’s name and number on it. Answers on Quora whilst having contrarian views on the subject also stating that they would like to see India and Pakistan play each other in a cricket match.

To conclude, this was a quote written in the Indian Express a few months back, “That is the bottom-line: whether India should play a cricket series with Pakistan or not can be a matter of opinion. Banning it perhaps has a signaling value for the domestic political constituency in India. But to suggest that it can be an instrument of fighting terror emanating from Pakistani soil is disingenuous.”

So, would you like to see India and Pakistan play a bilateral series? Comment your answer below.