Geo Politics and Asian Cricket

It is not geo Politics affects only business, trade, economy and energy security .Geo Politics also affects development of normal sporting relations, development of games in individual countries. Until recently Pakistan used to be a strong force to reckon with in World Cup. But since the unfortunate incident that happened at Lahore with the touring Sri Lankan team Pakistan is forbidden country as far as International cricket is concerned .No cricket playing nation consider it safe risking to send t6heir team play in Pakistan .UAE is adopted as the alternate home of Pakistan cricket. Absence of international cricket in Pakistan has made significant damaging impact on Pakistan cricket. Pakistani youth no longer find that much of interest in taking cricket seriously .The country that produced cricketers of immense talent like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Akram, Waqar Yunis and Abdul Qadir can no longer form a competitive team to challenge the best of the best.

Bangladesh has different problem. It has developed commendable playing facilities with modern venues being host of some ICC and ACC tournaments. But for absence of proper domestic format and poor cricket administration the team is languishing at the bottom of ICC ranking in all forms of cricket. Bangladesh Cricket also suffers a great deal from geo politics .India was the first team to play test against Bangladesh and have visited Bangladesh on some other occasions for playing tests and ODIs. India with other teams has played cricket in Bangladesh .But in fourteen years since Bangladesh got test status India remains the only team not to have hosted Bangladesh in a series. Now that three musketeers –India, England and Australia set to dominate FTP of cricket there are little chances that Bangladesh would get fair share of playing opportunities in playing tests against major opposition. If Bangladesh cannot play regularly in bilateral series with two of its SAARC neighbors India and Pakistan at home and away how can Bangladesh improve? Bangladesh is not at all responsible for deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan. Neither it is a party to ongoing conflicts of India and Pakistan over their exclusive own issues.

On the backdrop of above situation the visit of PCB President Shaharyar Khan to Bangladesh is very important in reviewing the cricket bonding of the two countries .Pakistan would welcome visit of any Bangladesh team to Pakistan to regenerate international cricket there .But world knows that security situation in Pakistan is still not contusive for any international team risk their players to play in Pakistan. Till ICC and ACC consider it safe to play there and agree to send their officials to officiate in matches no member countries whatever PCB says would agree to send their teams. But it is also true that things must not remain like this for ever. Pakistan deserves return of international cricket and it should be in the form of an ICC or ACC event after extensive security audit.

Bangladesh can be an ideal alternate venue of UAE for Pakistan for their home series for the interim period .There are few stadiums of modern facilities and Bangladesh has very knowledgeable sporting cricket fans. Any match involving Pakistan and other test playing teams would capacity crowd at whatever venue these are played. Every time Pakistan plays its home series against a ICC full member team in Bangladesh a triangular ODI series is included and at least one test is scheduled between Bangladesh and Pakistan, Bangladesh and the touring team. This may be discussed when PCB President meets BCB officials at Dhaka. A triangular ODI series of Pakistan –India – Bangladesh will be a huge success if played annually in Bangladesh.

In order to strengthen bilateral cricket relationship Cricket academies must link with each other in matters of coaching of young players , age level cricketers . Pakistani cricketers must not be debarred from playing in BPL and other Bangladeshi domestic cricket. Pakistani cricketers are not playing in IPL though Pakistani team is playing in IPL Champions league. In this situation if Pakistani cricketers are deprived of playing in BPL it will not serve any good for Pakistan Cricket.

Ex BCB President is not President ICC. AshrafulHuq, ex Bangladesh national cricketer is Chief Executive of ACC for several years now. They can definitely play major roles in regenerating cricket in Asia in General and subcontinent in particular .Normalization of cricket relation of India and Pakistan will go a long way in creating peace in the region. Indian and Pakistani cricketers have admirers in both side of the border. If India and Pakistan prefer to battle with each other with bat and ball that will quickly normalize relation. India Pakistan Cricket match at any level anywhere in the world will attract tremendous attention.

We hope Kamal and Ashraful would act as catalysts in revitalizing the normal cricket relations among the countries in the South Asian region. Works must proceed more strongly for popularizing cricket among associate member countries. ACC despite of its limitation is doing a commendable work in setting roots of cricket in countries like China , South Korea , Kuwait , Nepal , Hong Kong . But it has come to our knowledge that India is not much supportive though Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Pakistan are very positive.

We hope that India must not make Cricket a victim of geopolitics. In the long run for its economic prosperity India will have to rely more and more on its sub continental and Asian cousins. Let it not neglect its responsibilities for development of cricket in Asian Countries.

India should take imitative in organizing regular home and away matches of India –Pakistan, India –Bangladesh the way they are doing with Sri Lanka and Other countries. India will soon realize IPL is giving them short term comfort .Indian team will lose progressively its competitive edge in playing against England ,South Africa and Australia in overseas tours .One of the main reason will be excessive exposure to T20 type of cricket and inviting match fixers and manipulators . India actually holds the key of freeing cricket from evil syndicates and making  cricket immune of Geo Politics.