India-Pakistan match – Artifex.News

T20 World Cup | Cricket economics trumps the complexities of sub-continental politics

admin — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:51:00 +0000

Cricket fans cheer during an ICC Champions Trophy 2025 cricket match between India and Pakistan, in Dubai. The medley of rescue efforts involved the Sri Lankan Government, the alleged ICC carrot of sops to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and the stick of penalties. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

In the wee hours of Tuesday (February 10, 2026), phones buzzed in specific offices in Dubai, Delhi, Mumbai and Islamabad, and a seemingly amicable solution was arrived at. The ICC T20 World Cup’s top-billed clash featuring India and Pakistan in Group A, will indeed happen as scheduled at Colombo on February 15.

While questions will swirl around the placement of India and Pakistan in the same group in ICC events, it has to be conceded that it is a commercial decision that helps the official broadcaster and the ICC rake in the moolah. The historical angst underpinning Indo-Pak encounters adds another distinct layer too, even if the jingoistic promotional campaigns deserve the dustbin.

The earlier state of limbo about this overhyped clash was caused by an overreaction from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which stated that since Bangladesh was removed from the championship, Salman Agha’s men would not play against the Men in Blue! The historical truth of Bangladesh being carved out of Pakistan in 1971 was conveniently forgotten in the quest for a new brotherhood.

That Bangladesh queered the pitch too by demanding a neutral venue away from India, at the last-minute, had already worsened the drama. And Dhaka’s strident move was provoked by the BCCI instructing Kolkata Knight Riders to axe pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League. This was seen as Delhi’s way of staging a cricketing protest over the violence against the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.

It was this move that drew instant reactions from the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the PCB. Soon, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and their respective cricketing boards and governments, got embroiled in a convoluted mess of injured sensibility and over-reactions that catered entirely to their domestic political domains.

Carrot of sops

The medley of rescue efforts involved the Sri Lankan Government, the alleged ICC carrot of sops to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and the stick of penalties. Truth be told, cricket did not win. But what is definite is that the complexities of sub-continental politics again played second-fiddle to the commercial judgment of going ahead with the game. All other lines in press-releases are just platitudes.

Published – February 10, 2026 09:08 pm IST

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BCCI is anti-national, says Shiv Sena (UBT)

admin — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 19:21:00 +0000

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray
| Photo Credit: PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Friday (September 12, 2025) slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the India-Pakistan match slated for September 14 in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

Seeking its boycott, he said, “We have told the whole world that Pakistan was behind the [Pahalgam] attack in India. And yet, we are now wanting to play with them.”

“Shame on BCCI for its anti-national and selfish behaviour,” he said and asked how “blood and cricket can flow together when blood and water can’t” (referring to India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack).

Questions BJP

He attacked the BJP and asked if the party had now changed its ideology.

“Pakistan, which has repeatedly launched attacks on our nation, spread terrorism in the nation, and killed innocent people in Pahalgam. Why is the BCCI so excited to play a match against Pakistan? Is this for TV revenue? For ad revenue? Pakistan decided to boycott the 2025 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup as the tournament was being hosted by India. Why can’t we also boycott? The BJP has changed its ideology. It is very unfortunate that we are playing a match with Pakistan. BCCI is anti-national,” he said.

Also Read: Should India continue to boycott cricket in Pakistan?

Calls for boycott

He also questioned the patriotism of the players. “Players can boycott, BCCI can boycott, broadcasters can boycott. Why aren’t they doing it? Those who are going to play need to ask how much of patriotism is alive in them,” he said.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has announced a ‘Sindoor Raksha Abhiyaan’ on September 14, when the party’s women’s wing will protest on the streets. “Later, sindoor will be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from lakhs of homes to remind him about the Pahalgam terrorist attack and that India should not play cricket with Pakistan,” party MP Sanjay Raut said.

Earlier, Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi “for allowing such a compromise of national pride”. He claimed that the match was being allowed since Jai Shah, son of union Home Minister Amit Shah, is the chairman of the International Cricket Council.

Published – September 13, 2025 12:51 am IST

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DMK Leader Slams Jai Shri Ram Slogans At India-Pak Match, BJP Responds

admin — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:24 +0000

Earlier, Udhayanidhi Stalin had sparked a row with his remarks on Sanatana Dharma

New Delhi:

DMK leader and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has criticised the raising of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans to mock a Pakistan cricketer during the India-Pakistan World Cup match in Ahmedabad Saturday. Mr Stalin’s remarks have drawn a sharp response from BJP leaders, with the party’s national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia calling him a “mosquito” out to “spread poison”.

Videos of people raising the slogans as Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan walked to the dugout has sparked strong reactions. Many have said the sloganeering was against the spirit of cricket and amounted to harassing the cricketer.

Some voices, however, have pointed out to Mr Rizwan offering namaz on the field and expressing solidarity with the people in war-hit Gaza in an earlier match, alleging that it was the Pakistan cricketer who brought religion to the field.

India is renowned for its sportsmanship and hospitality. However, the treatment meted out to Pakistan players at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is unacceptable and a new low. Sports should be a unifying force between countries, fostering true brotherhood. Using it as a tool… pic.twitter.com/MJnPJsERyK

— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) October 14, 2023

Taking to X, Ms Stalin said India in known for its sportsmanship and hospitality, and the treatment of players from the neighbouring country was a “new low”.

“India is renowned for its sportsmanship and hospitality. However, the treatment meted out to Pakistan players at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is unacceptable and a new low. Sports should be a unifying force between countries, fostering true brotherhood. Using it as a tool to spread hatred is condemnable,” he posted.

Earlier, Mr Stalin had sparked a row with his remarks on Sanatana Dharma. The DMK leader, who is the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and party chief MK Stalin, had said Sanatana Dharma is against the idea of social justice and must be “eradicated”. “Sanatana is like malaria and dengue and so it must be eradicated and not opposed,” he had said in September. The comment had drawn fire from the BJP.

Responding to his latest remark, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia posted on X in Hindi, “This hateful dengue, malaria mosquito is out to spread poison again. You don’t have a problem when a match is paused for namaz on the field,” he said. “Our Lord Ram resides in every corner of the universe, so say Jai Shri Ram,” he added.

नफ़रती डेंगू मलेरिया मच्छर फिर निकला है विष घोलने जब मैच रुकवा कर फील्ड पर नमाज़ पड़ी जाती है तो तुम्हें साँप सूँघ जाता है

सृष्टि के हर कन कन मे हमारे प्रभु श्री राम बसते है, तो बोलो जय श्री राम #IndiavsPak pic.twitter.com/Tm7Ikxbtqw

— Gaurav Bhatia गौरव भाटिया (@gauravbhatiabjp) October 15, 2023

Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale, too, has slammed raising of the slogans to heckle the Pakistani cricketer.

PM Modi desperately wants India to host the 2036 Olympics.

But if this is what BJP has reduced our audiences to – where they heckle a Pakistani player with chants of Jai Shri Ram – massive doubts remain over whether we’re qualified & sporting enough to host ANY international… pic.twitter.com/8m4BgdAOFn

— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) October 15, 2023

“PM Modi desperately wants India to host the 2036 Olympics. But if this is what BJP has reduced our audiences to – where they heckle a Pakistani player with chants of Jai Shri Ram – massive doubts remain over whether we’re qualified & sporting enough to host ANY international sporting event,” he wrote on X.

India posted a comfortable 7-wicket win against Pakistan Saturday, in its eight straight win against the neighbouring country in the World Cup.

The Pakistan team’s visit to the World Cup and the grand welcome it has received in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad has drawn mixed responses. Many cricket fans have said political differences should not be allowed to ruin the game. Others have pointed to Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism and questioned how normal sports relations can be maintained despite tension on the borders.

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