India and the world must hit Pakistan sports very hard

Pakistan may be happy they were coaxed into accepting a ‘peace deal’ of sorts with India for the time being, but the ramifications it has at large will be unprecedented.  For sure, the involvement of Don Trump, President of the United States of America, has been seen as a positive in some ways. Pakistan as a state had turned rogue, since it is their corrupt Army and the ISI whose writ runs, not that of politicians.

The immediate worry for Pakistan is how their sports is going to be hit very hard. The Pakistan Super League, which is anaemic when compared with Indian Premier League, will not resume in the near future. And even if it does, overseas cricketers from Australia and New Zealand will not come. Stories of how these cricketers flew back, or fled from Pakistan have been chronicled. The route was only via Dubai and some of the cricketers were so badly stressed out, they have said they will never return to Pakistan.

Pakistan is unsafe and the men who govern it are unsound. Way back, in 2009, the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked, ostensibly by terrorists, also kmown as jihadis. The venue was the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 3. The outrage, anger and frustration from the cricketing world was massive. Many nations stopped touring Pakistan, till a few years ago. It is only India which has steadfast said no to playing cricket in Pakistan. Today, former Pakistani cricketers are being seen as pro terror. The problem increases for Pakistan as India has said any attack by the unfriendly neighbour will be seen as terror. For the record, Pakistan is also being hammered by Baluchistan and Afghanistan. It is now a nightmare for the Pakis.

Back to the PSL, it did have TV viewership and has been linked to illegal betting as well. While the IPL is expected to resume next week at venues restricted to South India and Kolkata, the PSL will not be supported by the Emirates Cricket Board. This is just a first hit for Pakistan. There will be more to follow.

It is well-known, in future, the ICC, headed by Jay Shah will not allow Pakistan to stage any event. It was a mistake the ICC allowed Pakistan to host most important matches relating to India even in Dubai for the Champions Trophy. Matches in Pakistan had very poor attendance inside the arena as well. None can deny this. It is also well known Pakistan got money from the ICC for renovating stadia and there was swindling of funds, plus cost over-runs.

On several accounts, sports in Pakistan is finished. Cricket inside Pakistan will take a hit as bilaterals will become impossible. The PSL is going to become redundant. And if there is anything called hockey, that has seen only pain in Pakistan.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is headed by a Pakistani, Tayyab Ikram, who has been getting maximum sponsorship funds from India. It is well known, Tayyab holds two passports, Pakistani and Macau. Yet, for most reasons, he is a Pakistani. The way he has clung on to Hockey India and extracted money is well-known.  The frequent visits made by Tayyab to India must stop. At the same time, Hockey India officials have also been hobnobbing with the Pakistan Embassy in New Delhi. All this must stop. India and Pakistan are not friends.

As for Pakistan’s own hockey, why should India be indirectly paying or promoting it. Tayyab must be watched and so do the officials in the Asian Hockey Federation. Most of them are Pakistanis, some ex Army as well. All this must be looked into by India.

Last but not the least, when Neeraj Chopra decided to hold a javelin meet in Bengaluru, people thought Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Paris 2024 Olympics gold medallist would come. No, Neeraj told the media, over a fortnight back, Arshad is out of it. Two days back, Neeraj decided to cancel the NC Classic schedule for May 24.

India must most engage with Pakistan in any sporting activity. The way lives have been lost in Pahalgam and the forward areas in the last four days have been hit is so sad. If anything, one must look at even the Asian Cricket Council closely. That is also headed by a Pakistani, Mohsin Naqvi, a minister the Pakistan Cabinet.

War and sports cannot go on. Hit Pakistan. Hard.