CRICKETING DIPLOMACY OR COLD WAR ? BCCI’S NO HANDSHAKE STAND ON PAKISTAN SPARKS BIG DEBATE

Cricket between India and Pakistan is never just about the game and now it turned into a another headline grabbing drama. This time the BCCI stands on skipping the traditional pre match handshake with Pakistan has set off a heated debate. When pressed on whether India would stick to its no handshake policy in upcoming encounters, senior BCCI official did not bother with diplomacy. I’m not astrologer, he said, pretty much confirming that nobody can predict when or if things will warm up between. These 2 teams.

 The timing Is not random. People are arguing over whether cricket should stay above the messy politics between India and Pakistan or Mirror the tension that are always Simmering in the background. For years now, the two sides have only faced off in ICC and ACC tournament. Bilateral series are out of the questions. And it’s not just about scheduling anymore. Even basic on field gestures are now loaded with meanings.

 The latest No handshake movement when Indian players skipped the usual greeting during a high stakes match felt intentionally and symbolic to a lot of folks. The BCCI comment make it clear don’t expect a change in this policy at a time soon. Especially with relations as ICS they are. Cricket might always talk a big game about sportsmanship but let’s be honest. Indian Pakistan match carry decades of political baggage that you just Cannot ignore.

 People are split. Some believe that no matter what’s happening of the field, cricket ritual, specially the handshake, should stay untouched. That’s what the spirit of the game is all about, they argue, particularly when the world is watching. But plenty of fans in experts are backing the players saying you cannot force these gestures. And security concern, national sentiment and government policy are all tangled up in the mix.

 Both teams, meanwhile, are not saying a word about the whole thing on the field. They are polite enough, they are not smiles. A few words exchange but you can feel the tensions. Even ICC officials are dodging the topic, pointing out that at tournament like the Asia Cup and World Cup, these handshake are not mandatory.

 The offhand I am not an astrologer line from the BCCI might sound casual but it sends a clear message. The boat is not promising anything until the bigger political picture shifts. It’s a way of kicking the issue up to the governing bodies and the diplomats who Will have. To figure out when or if cricket between India and Pakistan can never ever feel normal again. With more multi team tournament coming up next year, we are bound to see these to sides face off again. Will the no handshake policy? Will sportsmanship finally win out over politics? Nobody knows, but one thing for sure, every time these 2 teams share a field, it’s about much more than cricket and even the smallest gesture can put under a microscope.