It is heartening to note that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has finally announced the official fixtures for the Champions Trophy 2025. It was scheduled to announce these fixtures at least a month ago.

There are reasons for such delay. India, which has refused to send its team to Pakistan, has caused a very negative influence on this tournament which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from Feb 19 to March 9.

India has reportedly cited political and security concerns as so-called “plausible” reasons behind its decision.

Unfortunately, India has tried to throw a spanner in the works despite assurances from all board members regarding the security arrangements and tentative match schedule. India’s nefarious designs vis-à-vis Pakistan are too well known.

That India is inimical to Pakistan’s interests is a fact. It has been fully supporting the activities of insurgents or terrorists of different hues in Pakistan for quite some time.

The recent spike in incidents of terrorism weeks or months before the start of Champions Trophy tournament says it all.

This problem is all India’s doing; its belligerence, to say the least. I would request BJP’s coalition partners to rein in Narendra Modi’s belligerence mainly in view of the election result, which was a shock for him or the entire Sangh Parivar but a win for democracy.

It was in this election that his party’s divisive Hindutva rhetoric that seeks to target Pakistan in particular had failed to resonate in large parts of India. India’s civil society must assail Modi for wielding cricket as a political weapon.

Iffat Sultan Bhoon (Narowal, Punjab)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024