India, that is Bharat. Pakistan, that is a failed state. Cricket and geopolitics.
In the intricate and often volatile tapestry of South Asian geopolitics, where narratives of acrimony and distrust are more frequent than tales of unity and collaboration, we observe a phenomenon that seems nothing short of a tragic irony. Here, amidst a climate often marred by political contentions, cricket morphs into a stage where, astonishingly, Pakistan yearns for moments of validation and acknowledgement from its vastly more successful neighbor, India i.e. Bharat.
Desperately grappling with an image tainted by its own historical missteps, Pakistan seizes these few hours on the cricket pitch as a life-line, a chance to momentarily cleanse its tarnished reputation and stand on an even footing with India, a nation that has surged ahead in global standings. But, one cannot ignore the stark reality that these moments of normality, these rare instances of mutual sportsmanship, are more a lifeline for Pakistan than a reciprocal exchange.
One cannot overlook the fact that Pakistan’s own policies have maneuvered it into this precarious position — a nation that harbors and fosters elements of terror, ostensibly to create turmoil in India, now finds itself isolated, bearing the brunt of a strategy that imploded massively. The repercussions of these policies have been severe, pushing Pakistan into a vortex of international mistrust and vilification, a path that seems increasingly hard to retreat from.
In the book “Pakistan on the Brink: The future of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the West”, celebrated journalist Ahmed Rashid embarks on an illuminating voyage into the labyrinthine corridors of Pakistan’s political and social structure, offering a somber portrait of a nation teetering on the edge of geopolitical disrepute. Rashid unveils a canvas besmirched with the unsettling hues of rising extremism, uneasy alliances, and an agonizing tug-of-war between military and civilian leadership. This narrative paints Pakistan as the world’s proverbial geopolitical eyesore, a nation caught in its own web of internal contradictions and external entanglements, desperately gasping for a semblance of stability and respect on the world stage.
India, on the other hand, stands tall, having carved a path of progress and respectability on the global stage. Its generosity in extending a hand of camaraderie to Pakistan during cricket matches appears almost magnanimous, pulling Pakistan from the depths of isolation into the limelight of a cricket field, offering it a fleeting taste of respect and normalcy. But even in these moments, the disparities are glaring.
The exclusion of Pakistani players from the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) hangs heavily in the background, a palpable reminder of the gaping chasm that separates the two nations. This exclusion is not merely a sporting decision, but a reflection of the mistrust and caution that governs India’s approach to a nation that has, in the past, fostered forces antagonistic to India. For Pakistan, the inability to partake in the IPL serves as a stinging reminder of opportunities lost, of a nation languishing in the shadows while others march forward in unity and strength.
As the cricketing world gears up to witness another face-off between these two nations coming World Cup, one cannot help but perceive the desperation in Pakistan’s eagerness to step onto the field with India, to seize these brief moments of recognition and respectability, regardless of the outcome. It seems a desperate bid to salvage some semblance of dignity, to showcase a prowess that could have been lauded on international platforms, had history taken a different course.
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had once penned a poem on Pakistan. Here is a few lines that succintly capture the essence of what is wrong with the failed state.
एक नहीं दो नहीं करो बीसों समझौते,
पर स्वतन्त्र भारत का मस्तक नहीं झुकेगा।अगणित बलिदानों से अर्जित यह स्वतन्त्रता,
अंश्रु स्वेद शोणित से सिंचित यह स्वतन्त्रता।
त्याग तेज तपबल से रक्षित यह स्वतन्त्रता,
दु:खी मनुजता के हित अर्पित यह स्वतन्त्रता।इसे मिटाने की साजिश करने वालों से कह दो,
चिनगारी का खेल बुरा होता है
औरों के घर आग लगाने का जो सपना,
वो अपने ही घर में सदा खरा होता है।…
पर तुम क्या जानो आजादी क्या होती है?
तुम्हें मुफ़्त में मिली न कीमत गयी चुकाई।
अंग्रेजों के बल पर दो टुकड़े पाये हैं,
माँ को खंडित करते तुमको लाज ना आई?
In summary, the cricket saga between India and Pakistan offers more than just a sporting spectacle. It unveils the self-inflicted, tragic narrative of a nation that finds itself trapped in the throes of its own making, desperately reaching out for moments of validation through a game that promises not only excitement but a fleeting escape from a reality marred by its own historical transgressions. As the world watches, one cannot ignore the underlying tones of desperation and loss, a narrative tinged with regret and a longing for a path not taken, a chance to rewrite history that seems ever elusive.
