Refusing to Shake Hands With Pakistan “Violated the Spirit of Cricket”; Obviously Govt Was Involved

5 months ago 59

Refusing to shake hands with Pakistan "violated the spirit of cricket"; obviously government was involved: Mihir Bose, former BBC Sports Editor, and Ayaz Memon, former Editor Sportsweek, to Karan Thapar for The Wire. ......................................... Two of the world’s best known and most highly regarded former sports editors and authoritative cricket commentators have spoken about the Indian cricket team’s refusal to shake hands with the Pakistani side in Colombo last Sunday. Mihir Bose, the former BBC Sports Editor and author of ‘The Nine Waves: The Extraordinary Story of How India Took Over the Cricket World’ says this “violated the spirit of cricket”. He says: “It shows an immature country, it shows what a young boy would do, not a country which is claiming to be a world power that’s going to rise to the heights of glory and economic strength.” Asked if Surya Kumar Yadav, the Indian captain, had behaved like a gentleman when he refused to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart after the toss, Mr. Bose said: “He didn’t behave like a gentleman. He behaved like a man who was under some sort of political instruction.” In the accompanying interview, Ayaz Memon, the well-known former Editor of Sportsweek, author and cricket commentator, said that the Indian team’s refusal to shake hands with the Pakistani side “diminished” what he calls the ethos or spirit of cricket. Mr. Memon also said that he believes that this decision was “obviously” taken at the behest of the Indian government because he finds it hard to accept that the BCCI would take this decision on its own. As this is a sensitive subject and one where I don’t want to wrongly paraphrase or quote either Mr. Bose or Mr. Memon, I think you should hear for yourself what both gentlemen had to say. . I will stop at giving you what I consider the headline points. Instead, I will give you the main questions put to both Mr. Bose and Mr. Memon so you know what issues were raised. Here are the questions:- 1) Was the Indian cricket team justified in refusing to shake hands with the Pakistani side in Colombo on Sunday or have they violated the spirit of cricket and true sportsmanship? 2) They say cricket is a gentleman’s game and when something is not fair or proper they say that’s not cricket. But did Surya Kumar Yadav behave like a gentleman when he refused to shake the Pakistani captain’s hand after the toss? 3) The argument made in defence of the Indian cricket team is that they were standing up for Indian nationalism and in support of the victims of Pahalgam. But is Indian nationalism so weak and fragile it needs support by snubbing Pakistani cricketers? 4) The truth is that even at the height of the Kargil war in 1999, the Indian side shook hands with their Pakistani opponents at the World Cup in England. If it was possible and acceptable then what’s the real reason it’s not possible and acceptable today? 5) Do you believe the team was given instructions by BCCI not to shake hands? After all this also happened repeatedly in Dubai last September. And in turn was BCCI given instructions by the government? Many people believe that’s what happened. What’s your view? 6) Refusing to shake hands with the Pakistani team has become the norm. How is this viewed in the other cricket playing nations like England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies? 7) The behaviour in Colombo on Sunday was a world apart from what happened in Chennai in 1999 when Pakistan after beating India took a victory lap in the stadium and the audience gave them a standing ovation. Are those days gone forever or do you think one day something similar could happen again? 8) You know and understand the players. They must realise they’ve betrayed the spirit of cricket and sportsmanship. Do you have any sense how they view their own behaviour? If they were coerced not to shake hands do you think they regret what they were forced to do? 9) Finally India is a strong resilient country with the strength to do the right thing even in difficult circumstances. But when it’s cricket team was unable to do the right thing has the team let down India? 10) My last question how is all of this viewed in Pakistan? With hurt? Dismay? Anger? And has it ensured it will be a long while before India and Pakistan can have normal cricketing relations? Join The Wire's Youtube Membership and get exclusive content, member-only emojis, live interaction with The Wire's founders, editors and reporters and much more. Memberships to The Wire Crew start at Rs 89/month. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWtJey46brNr7qHQpN6KLQ/join

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