Why an India vs Pakistan Cricket Series May Not Be Feasible in the Future

Given the current political and social context, hosting an India vs Pakistan cricket series poses significant challenges. Here, we explore the reasons why such a series might not be ideal for the future.

Reasons for the Lack of Feasibility

The Predictable Results

One of the primary reasons for not expecting an India vs Pakistan series in the future is the predictable nature of the results. Historically, India has dominated Pakistan in latest encounters. With the decline in Pakistan's cricket team, particularly in terms of quality batters, it is unlikely that the results will favor Pakistan. While India's team quality has also dipped slightly, it still remains significantly above that of Pakistan

The Quality of Grounds

The nature of grounds in both nations also plays a crucial role. Pakistani pitches, often described as 'feasts for batsmen,' do not provide a fair competition between bat and ball. Meanwhile, Indian grounds in India also tend to be flat, which can lead to spectacular batting performances but often at the expense of genuine competition. Such conditions exacerbate the imbalance between teams and tend to result in exaggerated personal records rather than competitive matches.

The Unnecessary Hype

Another significant issue is the constant hype surrounding India vs Pakistan matches, which often overshadows other potentially more interesting series. This heightened interest can lead to other high-quality matches being overlooked. For instance, important bilateral series such as England vs Australia or Australia vs South Africa are sometimes sidelined due to the media-created frenzy around India-Pakistan encounters. The ICC, aware of this, may be reluctant to host such highly hyped matches, knowing that fans will gravitate towards the India-Pakistan series.

Political and Social Atmosphere

As someone from India, I understand the deep desire to see a bilateral series with Pakistan. However, the prevailing political and social atmosphere in India does not currently support such events.

Impact of a Loss

A loss by India in an India-Pakistan series can lead to severe repercussions. The government may blame the team and even target the Muslim community, leading to communal tensions and hostility.

Misconduct By Extremists and Media

Both extremist Hindus and the Indian media engage in behaviors that can exacerbate the issue. The media often portrays India-Pakistan matches as if they are battles, and their portrayal can be highly derogatory towards Pakistani cricketers. Extremist Muslims, who have taken to filing lawsuits against Pakistani cricketers over minor issues, further fuel the tension.

Government Stances

The current government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leans against fostering better relations with Pakistan. Their anti-Muslim rhetoric and anti-Pakistan stance may make it politically unfeasible to host such a series, as it could risk losing support from their base.

These factors collectively make it challenging to envisage a situation where an India vs Pakistan cricket series could be easily fostered in the near future. While the cricket itself might be intriguing, the broader implications and practical challenges could very well deter such an event.