Let’s not isolate Pakistan

by Rex Clementine  

Our leaders have so much to learn from Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who was Prime Minister three times having become the first female PM in the world in 1960. During the height of the cold war, with several countries showing alliance with either the US or Russia, she sensibly adopted a non-aligned policy and hosted the non-aligned summit in 1976 with the participation of 86 nations.

In a cricketing world that is becoming increasingly divided, we can do well by borrowing a leaf out of Mrs. Bandaranaike’s book.  Officials have given Pakistan the cold shoulder by turning down their proposal to play the Asia Cup in a hybrid model whereby the event will be played in both Pakistan and UAE.

India will not travel to Pakistan due to the political differences between New Delhi and Islamabad but letting India play their games in UAE was something that could have been agreed upon.

Sri Lanka have commuted between Dubai and Lahore on previous instances when playing Pakistan like it happened in 2017 when Thisara Perera skippered the side.  That UAE is too hot in September is also a lame excuse as the 2018 Asia Cup was entirely played in UAE in the month of September. Furthermore, when Sri Lanka successfully ended Pakistan’s unbeaten run in UAE in Test match cricket in 2017, that series too took place in September and October.  Finding excuses to isolate Pakistan and satisfy India will not serve us good in the longer run.

When you are playing in Australia, you end up in the flight for more than five hours if you are travelling between Perth and Melbourne. So, what’s the fuss about a three- and half-hour flight between Lahore and Dubai!

It is true that no one wants to stand up to India these days and Sri Lanka has learned harsh lessons in the past trying to do so. It’s fine to be friendly with India but not at the expense of Pakistan, who has been one of our strongest allies over the years.

Abdul Hafeez Kardar, who had played for India before partition was the first Test captain of Pakistan and he later went onto become the President of PCB. It was he who aggressively pushed Sri Lanka’s case for Test status.

Mr. Kardar wasn’t a mere talker. He was leading by example too. He initiated the Ali Bhutto Trophy, a reciprocal series between the under-19 sides of both nations. The legend of Ranjan Madugalle was born there, not so much for his batting but his spin bowling.

SLC also benefited immensely when Mr. Kardar offered scholarships to local coaches and curators to go and learn the trade in Pakistan. The fact that Sri Lanka were granted Test status in 1981 was largely due to his untiring efforts and former board secretary Neil Perera, now in his 90s, would vouch for this.

The people of Pakistan are also the friendliest. When you land at the airport and when the immigration officer sees your passport, there’s a pleasant welcome and if your reason for travel is cricket, there’s a polite smile too. The first question is not how long you are going to stay in Pakistan, but how is Aravinda de Silva doing these days!

The same hospitality is given to you at the hotels, at restaurants and even during taxi rides. Fans can get a glimpse of the support our players get in Pakistan if they watched the 2008 Asia Cup final played in Karachi – the famous Ajantha Mendis game where he took six for 12 against India.

Sadly, that was the last multi-nation event Pakistan hosted. However, cricket has gradually returned to the country. PCB has been able to host their T-20 league tournament PSL successfully while England and Australia went there last year to play Test match cricket.  A multi team tournament played there will be more than a welcome move and we should not put a spoke in the wheel to abrupt things.