Tensions are high ahead of India vs Pakistan tonight, with many Indian fans calling for a boycott of the game. The management and the players are not ignorant of the public sentiment back home, and carry the same compassion. India’s assistant coach, Ryan Ten Doeschate, made it clear in the press conference yesterday that the team are only following the directions of the Government of India and the BCCI. The players have a responsibility to go out on the field, represent the country and put their best foot forward. Ten Doeschate even mentioned that at one point, the management thought they wouldn’t even be coming to Dubai, and that the waiting was the most frustrating part.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion on how to participate in the protest against Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism and the harrowing attack on the people of India in Pahalgam. There seems to be a pipeline of hate directed towards players. But at the end of the day, they are just doing their job and what is asked of them, like you and me. The team, as well as the management, are well aware of the public sentiment, but at the same time, the management has a responsibility to guard the players from unnecessary hate. It’s their task to make sure that they give a befitting reply to Pakistan in the way that they can – with bat and ball.
The Indian management’s message, conveyed through Ten Doeschate, was clear – we are here to do our job as best we can. And while they try to disconnect the emotion from the game, they are not indifferent to the context of it.
Team India, Compassion, and Protest!
IND vs PAK: More than just a cricket match.
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The other aspect here is the fact that the Government of India has laid out a policy when it comes to sporting engagement with Pakistan – no bilateral contact, but a green signal to global tournaments, adhering to the Olympic charter. India, as a nation, is trying to portray itself as a serious global sporting power and has ambitions to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics.
In that regard, India does not have the luxury of refusing Pakistani athletes or teams entry into the country. In fact, if anything, a boycott will do India no good. It is not a solution to cross-border terrorism, but rather counterproductive, for both Indian athletes and the government’s ambitions. If we look at the issue from the lens of multi-sport tournaments, if India refuse to play in every international tournament where Pakistan participates, how will Indian athletes ever climb the rankings, gain crucial experience, or build a case for hosting marquee events?
Ahead of the India-Pakistan clash, let’s remind ourselves that sport is the only arena where nations can compete fiercely while sharing a common set of rules. The Indian team and management are not blind to the pain of Pahalgam, nor are they trying to dismiss the anger of the fans. The only thing they can do is to channel that emotion into performance. The government has drawn the boundaries, by allowing contests at a global level, and the players are operating within that framework. Suryakumar Yadav and team stepping onto the field is not an act of betrayal. Instead, they are representatives of a country that wants to lead in world sport.
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