News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/8th June 2024
British author George Orwell once remarked, “Sports is war minus the shooting.” This sentiment is vividly brought to life in the cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan. As the two archrivals prepare to clash in the T20 Cricket World Cup this Sunday, the stage is set at the newly constructed Nassau Stadium in New York, which can accommodate 34,000 spectators.
Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram believes that the India-Pakistan match is an ideal event for expatriates living in the United States. “The interest and passion involved in this match – and of course, the matches in the USA – will also give Americans an idea of what cricket is all about, and they will get a hang of it,” Akram told VOA. He emphasized that an India versus Pakistan match is the pinnacle of cricket rivalries.
Pakistan’s former captain and batsman Javed Miandad echoed Akram’s sentiments. “I always enjoyed the rivalry to the hilt, and even now, when I sit in front of the television to watch a current match, I feel amped and animated as if I am still playing,” Miandad told VOA. This match promises to be a high-stakes encounter, reminiscent of Miandad’s legendary six in Sharjah nearly four decades ago and Virat Kohli’s sensational performance against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne.
Political tensions often limit India-Pakistan matches to multinational events, leaving fans eagerly awaiting these contests. “A contest between India and Pakistan motivates players from both sides to give their best, because if you do well, you become an instant hero. It will be a unique experience for the fans in the USA,” Miandad added.
However, Indian cricket legend-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar believes other rivalries are emerging. “The India-Pakistan contests used to be iconic some time back, but as far as India is concerned there is hardly any contest between India and Pakistan. The new iconic rivalry is India versus Australia,” Gavaskar told VOA. His views might not resonate with die-hard fans from both nations, but Gavaskar remains firm in his assessment. Pakistan’s recent one-sided losses to India have somewhat dampened the rivalry. India has an unbeaten record against Pakistan in all eight ODI World Cup matches and has lost only one of seven T20 World Cup encounters.
For Pakistan, the match against India is crucial, especially after their upset defeat against the U.S., making it a must-win to qualify for the next round of the World Cup. Despite the results, the intense competition between the players remains undiminished. The stakes are high, and a defeat is often unacceptable to the fervent fan base of either side.
Players often downplay the significance, calling it “just another game,” but the reality is far different. A contest that evokes such strong emotions cannot be trivialized. The pressure and scrutiny are immense, as former Pakistani captain Akram experienced when he could not return to Lahore after missing a crucial match against India due to a shoulder injury in the 1996 World Cup.
The rivalry is so intense that Pakistan’s defeats in the 1999, 2003, 2011, 2019, and 2023 World Cups prompted inquiries and major upheavals. “No one accepts defeat in an India-Pakistan match,” former Pakistani fast bowler Wahab Riaz told VOA. He highlighted the emotional toll and allegations hurled after losses, emphasizing that while it is not war, it certainly feels like it.
The India-Pakistan matches attract hundreds of millions of viewers globally, surpassing every other cricket event in terms of viewership and broadcast revenue. The International Cricket Council, recognizing the financial and emotional stakes, often ensures that India and Pakistan face each other early in tournaments. Fans and organizers alike hope to see these archrivals compete in the knockout stages, keeping the spirit of this historic rivalry alive.
