Indo-Pak series: 'One shouldn't brood about the past'

06 November, 2012

Another Indo-Pak series and another threat from Sena chief Bal Thackeray. And again this time government has made it crystal clear that fool-proof security would be provided to cricketers, to avoid any untoward incident.

MAINTAINING THAT cricket should be used to bring the warring nations together, Syed Kirmani, former Indian cricketer while referring to the upcoming India-Pak cricket series has said that 'one shouldn't brood about the past'. He was reacting to Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray's statement that upcoming Pakistan tour was 'a national shame'.

Thackeray had got furious at Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's statement to 'forget the past'. He has gone to the extent of calling his supporters to disrupt the matches. But that is not how former cricketers think. Syed Kirmani told this citizen journalist : “I am always for forgiveness. One should not brood about the past.”

Given the level of threats issued by the right-wing party, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has carefully chosen the venues of the series. Despite boasting of two best stadiums, Mumbai has been left out as a venue for these matches, clearly to avoid any inconvenience due to Sena threats.

When asked whether it was right to skip Mumbai as a host city, Kirmani said: “It is better to have these matches in a neutral venue, away from India.” The series which comprises of two T20 and three ODI matches, is scheduled to start from December 25 and all the matches would be played in Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi.

Threats to the Indo-Pak series from right-wing organisations is nothing new, as Shiv Sena has been vehemently opposing betterment of ties with Pakistan earlier as well. One has to remember that sports can be used to better the souring relations. “Sports is the best media to bring integrity and harmony between nations,” Kirmani added.