India Team Discussion

[LiveLoveABD]

Just when people are wanting to see India boycott the match against Pakistan, ICC have seemed to take this issue seriously. I'm sure India wouldn't play the match against Pakistan if Indian govt intervenes. And since we have already seen all the ties with Pakistan - may it be trade, political ties, all have been broken now. It now doesn't make sense if India plays match after all that happened in the past 1 week.

https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...19-icc-meeting-february-27-1460411-2019-02-20

ICC doesn't want to lose its sponsor partners and also wouldn't wish to go on loss if the match gets forfeited. It doesn't really matter for one game, but still India is one of the very important teams for ICC in terms of revenue generation.

If India/BCCI pleases, Pakistan might not be there at the world cup at all.

 

[SaiSrini]

India might as well pull out from the WC if they are going to boycott the game against Pakistan. My blood would boil if Pakistan get free pts in the tournament because India boycotted the game and it allows them to move ahead in the tournament.

Best thing - pull out of the tournament! But to me, I reiterate that it’s rubbish move to think of boycotting. All this show of aggression on a private sport is BS. Play them, beat them, win tournament and dedicate it to the Pulwama victims. Meanwhile do things in the political (actual) field to pressurize Pakistan. That's where it matters and the only place where it ACTUALLY matters.

 

[asprin]

Just when people are wanting to see India boycott the match against Pakistan, ICC have seemed to take this issue seriously. I'm sure India wouldn't play the match against Pakistan if Indian govt intervenes. And since we have already seen all the ties with Pakistan - may it be trade, political ties, all have been broken now. It now doesn't make sense if India plays match after all that happened in the past 1 week.

https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cr...19-icc-meeting-february-27-1460411-2019-02-20

ICC doesn't want to lose its sponsor partners and also wouldn't wish to go on loss if the match gets forfeited. It doesn't really matter for one game, but still India is one of the very important teams for ICC in terms of revenue generation.

Honestly, I don't see it (India forfeiting the match) happening. With emotions running so high, imagine the kind of viewership and moolah the match is gonna attract. I think that solely will be the point of discussion and ICC will do everything in its power to make India play. Like mentioned earlier, forfeiting the match in group stages works, but what if they meet again in knockouts? What would be the point of playing the WC if India bows out as a result of not playing a match?

If India decides not to pull out of the WC, I don't anticipate a forfeit from them.

 

[Targaryen]

Honestly, I don't see it (India forfeiting the match) happening. With emotions running so high, imagine the kind of viewership and moolah the match is gonna attract. I think that solely will be the point of discussion and ICC will do everything in its power to make India play. Like mentioned earlier, forfeiting the match in group stages works, but what if they meet again in knockouts? What would be the point of playing the WC if India bows out as a result of not playing a match?

If India decides not to pull out of the WC, I don't anticipate a forfeit from them.

The viewership would be very high. But when you have lost so many army men and the whole nation has been mourning, you can't just play. Whatever maybe the aggression and even if your goal is to beat your rival team, at the end of the day, it is just an 'entertainment'. Playing just for entertainment during this situation wouldn't make sense at all. It feels like if someone is dead in your neighbour and you play a loud music and create nuisance. I say, withdraw from worldcup, if that sacrifices of those men really matters to our cricket team.

 

[Targaryen]

If India/BCCI pleases, Pakistan might not be there at the world cup at all.

You called it? And BCCI have started their process:

https://m.timesofindia.com/sports/c...n-from-world-cup/amp_articleshow/68089643.cms

 

[asprin]

Frankly, all this talk of strong arming ICC to ban Pakistan is far fetched. It isn't as easy as 1-2-3. The ^ article itself mentions that. Expecting that to happen is unrealistic. Even with all its power, the BCCI can't dictate which teams play in WC and which doesn't. I would be very, very, very surprised if that happens. This is the WC we are talking about and not a random tri/quad series.

Yes, agreed that India can afford to sit out of the WC and ICC can't afford to let that happen. But I simply do not see BCCI having that kind of influence to ban one country from the pinnacle event of the sport.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Can you read? It's being monitored. It's not certain. Don't post details to create unnecessary hysteria and draw attention. If the BCCI says it won't play, it won't. The ICC can't do two cents about it. Hell, if the BCCI really puts the foot to the throttle, there might be a world cup minus Pakistan.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Frankly, all this talk of strong arming ICC to ban Pakistan is far fetched. It isn't as easy as 1-2-3. The ^ article itself mentions that. Expecting that to happen is unrealistic. Even with all its power, the BCCI can't dictate which teams play in WC and which doesn't. I would be very, very, very surprised if that happens. This is the WC we are talking about and not a random tri/quad series.

Yes, agreed that India can afford to sit out of the WC and ICC can't afford to let that happen. But I simply do not see BCCI having that kind of influence to ban one country from the pinnacle event of the sport.

BCCI don't have the power to say 'No Pakistan.' But, it has the power to say, 'India/Pakistan.'

There cannot be a world cup without India. There can be one without Pakistan. How long has it been now that there is no cricket in Pakistan? It's definitely possible and it's what should happen.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

I don't know what's wrong with people. When since last 70 years Pakistan was doing such things then nobody even raised an issue on playing any sport with Pakistan. But all of a sudden today people are saying to stop playing Pakistan and all that. I mean these things aren't in anyone's control, nobody did predict that sort of an attack all of a sudden from the Terrorists. What I feel is if we don't play Pakistan it would be a win for Pakistan as they want India to get influenced by all these things. Why do you think the army men are standing there on the border ? To protect our country and our land and to ensure that people live their lives peacefully. Cricket is a sport that is in the heart of everyone in this Country. Everyone feels the happiness when India wins a Cricket match and if we stop playing it is only going to hurt the sentiments of people in this Country and that is not what the people standing there on the border want. If we really respect our army men and want them to feel satisfied by their act which they do for the Country then we should not get influenced by these things. Ban the Pakistani products, break the relation with Pakistan Gov, stop watching Pakistani movies and stop trading with them is the thing we should do but do not stop the sport. Just think about the happiness that our army men would feel if India beats Pakistan in the WC. I think people shouldn't actually support this thing about not playing with Pakistan but instead hope that India beats them fair and square in the WC. That would be an ideal victory when it comes down to a sport

 

[LiveLoveABD]

India might as well pull out from the WC if they are going to boycott the game against Pakistan. My blood would boil if Pakistan get free pts in the tournament because India boycotted the game and it allows them to move ahead in the tournament.

Best thing - pull out of the tournament! But to me, I reiterate that it’s rubbish move to think of boycotting. All this show of aggression on a private sport is BS. Play them, beat them, win tournament and dedicate it to the Pulwama victims. Meanwhile do things in the political (actual) field to pressurize Pakistan. That's where it matters and the only place where it ACTUALLY matters.

This is about as political a move as it gets. Their prime minister is an ex world cup winning captain. If India pulls out, there won't be a world cup and the ICC will never let that happen. If Pakistan don't get to be a part of the world cup, their prime minister will have pressure built on him to answer questions and it will make him get involved in dialogue with us. It gives us bargaining power. I can't care less about cricket if it gives us leverage over them to get some payback for our martyrs.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

This is about as political a move as it gets. Their prime minister is an ex world cup winning captain. If India pulls out, there won't be a world cup and the ICC will never let that happen. If Pakistan don't get to be a part of the world cup, their prime minister will have pressure built on him to answer questions and it will make him get involved in dialogue with us. It gives us bargaining power. I can't care less about cricket if it gives us leverage over them to get some payback for our martyrs.

See this is not going to happen. You think if India doesn't play with Pakistan will make Pakistani people ask questions to the PM of the Country ? Sorry you are getting fooled by it. Infact if we do such a thing what Pakistan would feel like is “India is afraid to let Pakistan play the sport as they know that Pakistan is better at it.” And further that would send out a wrong message to Pakistan that India is unnecessarily creating troubles for Pakistan. And there those ugly people would find reasons to propagate hate against India leading more youth to get brainwashed and involve in the henious activity of terrorism. This thing which you have brought up is only going to hurt India and Pakistan will get affected the least by it !!!

 

[Bevab]

India might as well pull out from the WC if they are going to boycott the game against Pakistan. My blood would boil if Pakistan get free pts in the tournament because India boycotted the game and it allows them to move ahead in the tournament.

Best thing - pull out of the tournament! But to me, I reiterate that it’s rubbish move to think of boycotting. All this show of aggression on a private sport is BS. Play them, beat them, win tournament and dedicate it to the Pulwama victims. Meanwhile do things in the political (actual) field to pressurize Pakistan. That's where it matters and the only place where it ACTUALLY matters.

Agree with this. It would make zero sense from a political and sporting perspective to play 8 games and boycott only one game versus Pakistan, and hand them the free points. And, pulling out of the tournament isn't a good option either. It would basically mean that the terrorists, whose sole aim is to disrupt the normal activities of India have won. The brave martyrs deserve payback, but pulling out of this tournament as retribution is just plain and ugly virtue signalling.

See this is not going to happen. You think if India doesn't play with Pakistan will make Pakistani people ask questions to the PM of the Country ? Sorry you are getting fooled by it. Infact if we do such a thing what Pakistan would feel like is “India is afraid to let Pakistan play the sport as they know that Pakistan is better at it.” And further that would send out a wrong message to Pakistan that India is unnecessarily creating troubles for Pakistan. And there those ugly people would find reasons to propagate hate against India leading more youth to get brainwashed and involve in the henious activity of terrorism. This thing which you have brought up is only going to hurt India and Pakistan will get affected the least by it !!!

Also agree with this. Anybody who believes that a population that has been slowly brainwashed into believing that India is the enemy right from their childhood will ask questions of their PM just because their country got kicked out of a tournament needs to get their reality checked. Imran Khan wasn't elected just because he won the World Cup once upon a time, he's also been one of the leading politicians in Pakistan with strong ties to the military. It will only lead to Pakistan painting itself as a victim of sporting injustice due to non-sport events, which will further strong-arm their hatred towards India.

 

[abhi_jacko]

I think we need to look at this issue in two ways. First one is about making a political statement - once again Cricket/Bollywood/Arts are being made soft targets amidst charged emotions and no REAL steps are being seen to isolate Pak. If we were really serious about the isolation, we wouldn't have given Royal Welcome to the Saudi Prince one day after he promised $20bn aid and vocal support for our neighbors. Basically, a part of the money we are giving the Saudis as part of trade will indirectly go to Pakistan. How is this not a bigger issue that is being talked about? We could have taken a strong stand on this but we did not. China has also refused to change its stance on JeM chief and we cannot do anything about it either. These are real political issues rather than Cricket and Bollywood.

Second one is about the World Cup itself. Suppose we forfeit just the group the game against Pakistan, we will be at max loss. We will lose points, they will gain free points. And we will have to pay ICC the damages for the forfeit, part of which will be used to compensate PCB again. And all this talk about BCCI being strong enough to get Pakistan ousted from the World Cup is silly. During 1996 World Cup, Aus was the top dog in the cricket world, but they decided to not play against Sri Lanka due to terror attack and they had to pay their dues for this forfeit. Its not like they were able to strong arm the ICC into taking the World Cup matches out of Sri Lanka. Sending that letter to ICC to throw Pakistan out of the world cup will not help us in anyway - it will be seen as a bully tactic and nothing else. If we really need to boycott Pak at the world cup, then boycotting their games is the only DECENT way to do it - group/knockout games.

And finally talking of precedence. We played Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup against the backdrop of ongoing Kargil War and this was never an issue back then.

At the end of the day, unless the Indian govt puts its foot down on this issue (which will be hypocritical to be frank), the match is going to go ahead.

My solution is simple. Play Pakistan at the World cup. As a protest for what happened, wear black arm bands and do not interact with their players or shake hands. Play that match and move on.

 

[Targaryen]

I don't know what's wrong with people. When since last 70 years Pakistan was doing such things then nobody even raised an issue on playing any sport with Pakistan. But all of a sudden today people are saying to stop playing Pakistan and all that. I mean these things aren't in anyone's control, nobody did predict that sort of an attack all of a sudden from the Terrorists. What I feel is if we don't play Pakistan it would be a win for Pakistan as they want India to get influenced by all these things. Why do you think the army men are standing there on the border ? To protect our country and our land and to ensure that people live their lives peacefully. Cricket is a sport that is in the heart of everyone in this Country. Everyone feels the happiness when India wins a Cricket match and if we stop playing it is only going to hurt the sentiments of people in this Country and that is not what the people standing there on the border want. If we really respect our army men and want them to feel satisfied by their act which they do for the Country then we should not get influenced by these things. Ban the Pakistani products, break the relation with Pakistan Gov, stop watching Pakistani movies and stop trading with them is the thing we should do but do not stop the sport. Just think about the happiness that our army men would feel if India beats Pakistan in the WC. I think people shouldn't actually support this thing about not playing with Pakistan but instead hope that India beats them fair and square in the WC. That would be an ideal victory when it comes down to a sport

Leaving out the past 10-15 years, remaining 60 years were quite different. There was no social media, very less press coverage etc.. Anything that happened in the world was not reaching the people on large scale. Hence, there was no noise about it. At present, people are exposed to social platforms, live news updates around the globe, smartphones, internet and what not. Literacy rate has also increased.

Just wanted to make one thing clear, you said that people want to see the team play cricket and Army want to see us winning the game against Pakistan. You are absolutely wrong here. [HASHTAG]#BoycottPakistan[/HASHTAG] was trending yesterday on Twitter. And also most of the regional news channels were running a live poll asking people to vote 'Yes' or 'No' for the question Should the Indian Team boycott match against Pakistan in WC? And more than 65% have said, YES. Some of the news channels have done the ground report asking people the same question and most of them have clearly said No match against Pakistan.

This is the same India where people wanted to watch India vs Pakistan match. And this is the same cricket fans who have opposed for that match this time...


Again, it not about playing and not playing. If it was solely for the army, then BCCI would've withdrawn from the tournament. But their condition is they would not play Pakistan anymore. Many of you say, Pakistan would get free points in the points table if India forfieted the match, but there won't be more embarrassing moment for them for getting the points for free rather than beating the team on the field. And many believe that, the current ODI squad is much better than other teams in the tournament. And this opinion is not mine but the opinions of the former Australia, England and New Zealand cricketers.

 

[abhi_jacko]

Sorry, but Twitter trends and news polls are the most skewed and fickle pieces of statistics. One day you see trends of HarHarModi, next day you see trends of ChowkidarChorHai .. these things change by the hour.

BCCI did the right thing by delaying any official statement on the boycott and saying lets wait and watch. Why commit to a stance when the "popular" sentiment is so short-sighted. The vocal minority on twitter/fb will change its tune at the drop of a hat. Come IPL and suddenly cricket will be top national priority again.