Sports share enormous potential to bring communities together. Although, we witness the cut-throat competition between athletes and sportsmen, and it amuses the masses with great intensity. But, for centuries, sports have played a great role as a diplomatic tool too in order to dispense peace during hostile circumstances. Since on 28th of August India and Pakistan are again going to compete in the Asia Cup tournament and hope is being expressed that if both teams play to the fullest of their potential, there is a possibility that both teams may compete thrice within a time of one month, which is very amusing for all cricket and non-cricket fans. Because the match between both arc-rivals attracts a great number of eyeballs across the world, which is commercially very profitable.
Prior to the 1970s, US and China had a very strained relationship. Chinese involvement in the Korean wars had kept both countries in a climate of staggering antagonism. It was the time when ping-pong diplomacy started after U.S ping-pong players made a visit to the PRC (People’s Republic of China). And ping-pong was used as a tool to get the relationship between both countries back on track, as the U.S lifted the embargo after Kissinger’s visit to China.
Similarly, India-Pakistan has also used cricket as a tool of diplomacy many a time. On the 21st of February, India and Pakistan were on the brink of war, when the Indian army was weighing to attack the eastern flanks. Incidentally, both countries had also locked horns at Jaipur. And, Zia took the opportunity and flew to India, under the pretext of matching a cricket match between both countries. The situation was very hostile but Zia’s meeting with Rajiv Gandhi brought a fruitful end and both countries managed to avoid the war. Zia made a very smart move by presenting “absolute destruction” as a threat to shun the situation. Besides Zia, ex-martial law administrator and country premier General Musharraf has also used cricket as a tool to melt the hostile situation between both countries.
Since we are living in times when both countries are more or less suffering from similar challenges. The form of rising extremist nationalism rooted in political rightist ideology has become a threat not only for both countries and citizens there but also to the sustainable peace in South Asia In these high times. The hate rhetoric is growing immensely. During these challenging times, what these countries need is that: A discourse shall develop across the borders, where mutual cooperation and peaceful coexistence might be the agenda, instead of a dialogue of hate. And, cricket can be used as a tool, in this regard.
For that discourse to develop, supra-national institutions like ACC (Asian Cricket Council) have their own role to play. Supranational structures can work beyond a politically volatile environment to bring people, and the governments across the border, together. Close contact between people can ensure better understanding among the masses from both sides. The air of mutual coexistence, peace, compassion, and harmony can be developed by using cricket as a tool for diplomacy. So, this opportunity shall be seized, and instead of hate-mongering in building competitive climate discourse around peace, love, mutual harmony, and respect. So, that both countries might come closer and mutual peace shall be ensured.
We can only pray, that both countries will learn to prove themselves, good neighbors. And, leadership from both countries would try to restrain political point scoring through hate rhetoric and would try to use opportunities like this to the utmost advantage of the masses of both countries.
