Onus on champions – The Tribune
Living up to all the hype, Team India emerged worthy winners of the Champions Trophy. The squad, ably led by Rohit Sharma, just had too much firepower at its disposal. No wonder the resilient Kiwis, known for punching well above their weight, finished second best. Starting the tournament as firm favourites, the Indian team had a remarkable unbeaten run. However, the superb achievement was soured by allegations that India had been given preferential treatment, thanks to its financial muscle and clout in the International Cricket Council. The team stayed put in Dubai throughout the event, even as some of the others shuttled between Pakistan and the UAE. The bizarre rescheduling was necessitated by India’s refusal to play in the neighbouring country, citing security concerns.
For hosts Pakistan, the tournament was a disaster in more ways than one. The home team got knocked out at the group stage itself, while India’s relentless march denied the Pakistan Cricket Board the honour of hosting the final. The contrast between the fortunes of the two sides couldn’t have been starker.
India’s emphatic victory would have been all the more gratifying had it happened on Pakistani soil. Pakistan had crossed the border to take part in the ODI World Cup in 2023, but India chose not to reciprocate the gesture. A golden opportunity to initiate a thaw in bilateral ties was thus lost. But it’s never too late to make amends and mend fences. Prime Minister Modi needs to take a leaf out of his mentor Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s book. The latter didn’t let the Kargil War cast a long shadow on cricket relations. An Indian team toured Pakistan in March-April 2004 and went on to win both the Test and ODI series. Efforts to revive a great rivalry through reciprocal tours can help in easing border tensions. India, which calls the shots in the cricket world today, must take the lead on this front.
