Cricket caught behind in rhetoric
A simple gesture of formality withheld can snowball into a storm, and India captain Suryakumar Yadav is learning that lesson the hard way in the ongoing Asia Cup.
As eternal rivals India and Pakistan are set for a rematch after a week in their first Super Four fixture, what should have been about the talking points related to strengths and weaknesses and key matchups has instead been hijacked by the nagging question: will India will again refuse to shake hands post-match and, in the broad spectrum, will politics again overshadow play?
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The outside noise after the two teams' group-stage game has become so overwhelming that Yadav admits he feels like switching off his phone just to get some rest. However, it is apparently not an option, as between games he has to attend official engagements where the Pakistan-related questions -- often little to do with cricket -- always find their way into the room.
The non-handshake saga has turned so sensitive that even former India captains are treading carefully. Sunil Gavaskar, when asked during Thursday's Afghanistan–Sri Lanka match, dodged it entirely: "Look, any comment on this right now is risky."
Sourav Ganguly's response was equally telling. Although he made it clear he did not approve of the move, he stopped short of criticism: "The team did what they thought was best. I don't have a comment on this."
Cricket and politics keep getting entangled like stubborn weeds, and it is cricket that loses the most. Ganguly added a reminder that reached far beyond the boundary ropes: "This [mixing of politics with sport] should not happen… Other sports don't see it this much, but in cricket, it happens more."
In their previous meet, the gulf in class was clear, continuing the trend in recent years; the rivalry felt far from being fierce, as India outclassed Pakistan by a staggering seven-wicket margin. A Bangladesh supporter observed recently, "Tickets for the India–Pakistan match are still widely available, but tickets for Bangladesh–Sri Lanka [match yesterday] already sold out."
On the rivalry, the India skipper himself brushed it off with almost theatrical dismissal. "I don't know what rivalry you people are talking about," said Yadav in yesterday's pre-match presser.
Hot-favourites India barely broke a sweat in their previous game. Against Oman, Jasprit Bumrah was rested, part-timers bowled, Yadav refused to bat -- almost a glorified practice match. Pakistan, by contrast, enter the Super Four under pressure; their batting unit under scrutiny, and pride dented by defeat to India.
Outside the nets at the ICC Academy, fans surround their bus offering advice. Shaheen Afridi and others walk in with heads down and ears closed, with or without headphones. Another defeat, however, could turn those words from murmurs to roars.
The non-handshake fiasco itself dragged right into Pakistan's final group match, against hosts UAE. They even threatened a boycott unless match referee Andy Pycroft was removed. The game began an hour late -- an unprecedented event, given the context. And resuming their stance, the men in green went on to boycott yesterday's pre-match press conference.
At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium tonight, it thus remains to be seen whether cricket can express its typical glorious nature on one of the biggest stages, or whether every ball must carry the weight of unwanted, unspoken agendas.
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