It’s Not Just A Game

By M H Ahssan

English cricket team is likely to return for Test series

Though the last two one-dayers between India and England were cancelled because of the Mumbai terror attack, the two-Test series beginning on December 11 is likely to go ahead on schedule. Responding to security concerns, the BCCI has shifted the two Tests from Ahmedabad and Mumbai to Chennai and Mohali. The final decision by the ECB would be taken only after their security adviser, who is currently visiting the venues, submits his report. There is, however, a strong likelihood that some English players might prefer to skip the tour.

While from the security perspective it might have been prudent to postpone the matches, for the sake of the game it is important that the Tests are played but with every precaution in place. India is now the nerve centre of cricket. Nearly 70 per cent of cricket’s global revenues come from India and the game is like a religion to many Indians. Cricket cannot do without India; India cannot do without cricket. The Twenty20 Champions League, which was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, has been postponed. Any further rescheduling would seriously jeopardise future games in India, including the 2011 World Cup to be hosted jointly by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Already most teams are reluctant to play in Pakistan because of the terrorist threat. If India, too, is shunned it’s going to be a serious blow to cricket.

The threat posed to world cricket has been recognised by greats like Steve Waugh. He has written in his column that any long-term interruption of the game in India will have “major ramifications”. Similarly, former England captain Nasser Hussain feels that India is too important for England or other countries to cancel games. It is worth recalling that in 1984 the English team had arrived in India on the day Indira Gandhi was assassinated. Though the English team was forced to spend a few days in Colombo, they came back to play the Test series.

The more knotty issue is whether India should tour Pakistan next year. There are reports suggesting that the Indian government is unlikely to give a green signal. Although there is little doubt that India-Pakistan cricket matches generate enormous goodwill, the fate of the tour depends on the stand that the Indian government takes in the coming days. If New Delhi takes a tough stand on Islamabad for perpetrating terror, it is unlikely that the tour would be on. Though cricket will suffer, cancelling the tour would be part of a larger strategy of isolating Pakistan.