South Asians are once again in the grip of rivalry – this time it’s the cricket fever sweeping Pakistan and India that is pushing people and politicians to the edge alike.
The two sides will test their World Cup 2019 muscles Sunday at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, far from the Himalayan Kashmir battlefield, where the two nuclear-armed neighbors engaged in a precarious standoff early this year,
In view of heightened tensions that started this year with Pulwama attacks and an unprecedented peacetime Indian foray into Pakistani airspace and the subsequent dogfight, the only thing that matches the enthusiasm of millions of fans and Pakistanis and Indians living in Britain is the summer heat that is sizzling across South Asian plains.
This week, mercury in New Delhi rocketed to 48 degrees Celsius as parts of India faced drought under the scorching sun. In Pakistan, the midsummer sun is baking several cities and towns with Karachi under heatwave alert.
At the moment, it seems geographical proximity and the sameness of weather are the only apparent similarities between Pakistanis and India despite a history of shared cultures, arts, music and heritage.
The bitterness is built around Kashmir conflict, the question of terror and geostrategic competition. The two sides have not held peace parleys in years. A majority of people, charged by political rhetoric, sensational media focus on conflicts and emergence of the far right, particularly in India, have turned many away from each other. And they are yet to recover form a horrible clash in Kashmir when Pakistan shot down an Indian fighter jet and captured its pilot.
Their leaders went to Bishkek in Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan but showed no desire to let go off feelings of animosity with prime ministers Imran Khan and Narendra Modi staying poles apart.
Jazz TV advt on #CWC19 takes the Indo-Pak air duel to new level. It uses the air duel over Nowshera and Wing Co Abhinandan Varthaman's issue as a prop. @IAF_MCC @thetribunechd @SpokespersonMoD @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/30v4H6MOpU
— Ajay Banerjee (@ajaynewsman) June 11, 2019
But it is the Sunday June 16, that all eyes are set on.
A Pakistani channel upped the ante by releasing an advertisement that shows a recreated captive Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman – who was later released by Islamabad – as answering questions from interrogators.
The questions in the ad seek answers on Indian cricketing strategy. The Indian pilot politely declines to reveal the strategy but praises the tea as fantastic. When the pilot is leaving the room, he has asked to leave cup behind and then the ad splashes Pakistan-India match announcement.
Many in India have objected to release of the ad, saying it disrespects the pilot and the country.
But Pakistanis on the social media are mounting their own defense.
The ad is fueling the cricketing rivalry between the two nations – considered powerhouses of the sport with India rated higher than Pakistan for its consistent winning streaks.
In cricketing terms, India is riding a winning wave with its batsmen displaying class and patience to ensure that their sides gets into the semi-finals.
Pakistan, on the other hand, is faced with familiar unpredictability. It’s bowlers – most notably – Muhammad Amir has shown brilliance with fast pace exploits. But the Pakistani batting continues to be inconsistent and its achilleas heal. Pakistan will also need a good slow bowler.
The cricket fever is also catching up Pakistani-Americans and Voice of America’s Urdu Service has dispatched two of its correspondents – Asad Hasan and Saqib ul Islam to Britain to cover the contest.
My experience tells me that whoever bats first at the Old Trafford’s pitch, stands a better chance of winning. Weather will be a critical factor. But most of all it will be the ability to hold nerves. The Pakistani skipper will have to shrug off his fears and go for the win against a confident India.
