In a 2.2 minute video celebrating the nation’s cricketing achievements, we only get a glimpse of Imran Khan. The former prime minister deserves to be judged on his laurels on the pitch rather than his record in politics.
The design was to gift the world with the glories of Pakistani cricket; instead, it ended up showing the vindictive nature of the politics that has gripped the country. A 2.2-minute video celebrating the nation’s achievements on the 22-yard track, where heroes past and present, from Javed Miandad to Babar Azam, pass, shows just the fleeting behind of arguably the greatest cricketer of that time. country. Imran Khan, the lion-hearted leader, the Oxford-educated heartthrob, the human form of his country’s cricketing soul, was ignored by the babus who run Pakistan’s cricket.
There is an obvious political reason behind his absence. He was ousted as prime minister in April and arrested earlier this month on corruption charges. The country’s electoral commission has barred him from electoral politics for five years; broadcasters are de facto prohibited from mentioning his name or showing his image; his speeches and press conferences cannot be broadcast. Acting Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has automatically become the sponsor of the country’s cricket board, as is the practice in the country. Yet celebrating Pakistani cricket without Khan is akin to a Wimbledon video without Roger Federer, or a samba collage without Pelé. Whatever the politics, Khan commands respect for his leadership role at the 1992 World Cup, as well as his credentials as one of the best in all aspects of the game.
The Khan-less video makes for awkward viewing. A sports hero is a sports hero. He deserves to be judged on his laurels on the field rather than his record in politics. But electoral politics and cricket board politics in the Indian subcontinent are interrelated, they are inseparable. If it wasn’t for politics and politicians, both the Indian and Pakistani teams would have crossed the border several times in the last decade. A beautiful rivalry between two wonderful cricketing cultures need not wait for the ICC tournaments that take place once every four years to dust off their forgotten ties and memories. Politics and cricket may be inseparable, but they must also be inclusive and generous.
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First published in: 2023-08-17 06:45 IST
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