Playing Pakistan in multinational events a necessity for India, not a choice

Why India must face Pakistan in global sports, despite political noise. (Photo: AP)

The India Pakistan game is round the corner. And once again we will hear calls to boycott the game and statements that playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup is an anti-national act. The same people who will say so will stay silent on Neeraj participating in the Tokyo World Championships where he is expected to take on Arshad Nadeem. If the yardstick is to not play Pakistan anywhere and to withdraw the moment there is a Pakistani athlete, Neeraj shouldn’t play the world championships. Again, the Indian women’s team should withdraw from a home world cup or give Pakistan a walk over. Extend this to shooting, boxing, badminton, wrestling and every other sport. And to multi discipline games. The moment there is a Pakistani athlete present, India ought to withdraw is the argument.

It is ridiculous to say the least. Boycotting the one off Asia Cup game is not the answer. Can never be. No one wants to play Pakistan. Or rather resume sporting ties. But there are certain global compulsions that every country has to adhere to. The Indian PM was part of the same summit in China where the Pakistan PM was present. He couldn’t have walked out for that’s what global diplomacy is all about. To stop playing Pakistan in multi nation competitions is actually counterproductive. It will be playing into Pakistan’s hands and giving them an opportunity to dent Indian sport and belittle India in global forums.

Unlike Pakistan, India has ambitions to host global events on home soil. It is because of this that the government of India has consented to granting visas to Pakistani athletes coming to India for the junior hockey world cup. From what we have heard from the General Secretary of Hockey India, Pakistan is expected to come to India for this competition. Even if they don’t, the fact that India is willing to grant them visas is good enough. It stops Pakistan from going crying to international forums saying India isn’t allowing them to travel to multi sport events. Such actions, it can be argued, could have severely impacted India’s Olympic hosting ambitions.

The truth also is the Asia Cup is being singled out because it is men’s cricket. A statement against this game is certain to appeal to nationalist sentiment and garner eyeballs. It will resonate with a section of the public and allow the politician making it a few minutes of fame. But the moment we deep dive, things look different. Such a stand is not viable. Never was and never will be. Playing Pakistan is a global compulsion and necessity. For India’s sake, we need to follow the international sports charter and play Pakistan. That’s why the government has said no to bilateral sport but given consent to multi nation sport events.

Cricket, as always, is an easy target. None of the politicians who have targeted the Asia Cup have even mentioned the women’s world cup or the World Athletic Championships. For if they did, the argument falls flat. India will and should play Pakistan not because it loves to, but because it has to stand up to its own global sporting ambitions. I don’t see any harm in this and think it is a rational and well thought out stand.