Readers have no time for talk of Indo-Pak cricket ties

1. There is no reason we should have sporting ties with a nation that has shown little regard for our country, people and secularity. Without going into their support for terrorism and one point agenda with India, its enough to say that their hatred for us drives their meaning for life. I for one, do not want to give their life any more meaning
2. Lets evaluate the benefits of resuming cricket ties
   1. The bankrupt PCB gets to make money and use it to better Pak cricket - No benefit to India
   2. If India wins a series - We can't rule out attacks on the Indian team if they were playing in Pak (I don't believe the opposite of that is true - i.e. Pak teams have little to fear by winning a match or series in India)
   3. If Pak wins - The Pak politicians start a war of words and increase rhetoric on how they are superior and they have beaten the infidels (again, I don't believe the level of rhetoric is going to be similar in India)
   4. Both sides have political parties that will politicize the event and cause additional controversies (Thackeray digging up pitches) - No one benefits
3. Overall - I believe we have little to gain from resuming cricket ties with Pak - The state of cricket (players, management, team) in our country is far superior to theirs. We are happy beating them on neutral venues and playing better teams otherwise.

Best Regards

Ajay Totlani

Rajesh, Philadelphia: Regarding resumption of ties with Pakistan, I want no part of it. I will never forget what they have done to my country over the years. Maybe the politicians will kiss up to them for personal glory, my thought on this whole thing the Indian govt is trying to do is that the PM is trying to win a Noble Peace Prize or some such shit on his way out, for he knows too well he is not coming back after the next election, even if he lingers on till then.

I want Pakistan to bleed, I mean their cricket board. We all know that if India goes there, that brings the best revenue for them, so I do not want to help them in any damn way. Let them stop messing with us and not make empty talk.

Jee Tripurari sends in a lengthy list of headlines, a daily litany, if you will, of death and devastation spanning just the past two months. And at the end of the list, he asks: Where is the Thaw? And if there is no thaw why should we go back to entertain the murdering generals giving a false impression of normalcy. As for the boycott, my opposition to tours to Pak is restricted to popular sports such as cricket, soccer, hockey etc. These sports are entertainment and they entertain the people, players and organisers. At no time I am going to or support entertaining a country whose only mission seems to be killing us and destruction of our country. All these talks of people to people contacts goes up in the flames when we see more and more donations being made to jehadis, more and more people turning up at camps and the jehadi-military combo ruling Pakistan with popular mandate. Lets hope that by ruining their fun, even if just a little, average Pakistani citizen would transform their views and society. Till then, no Indian should provide any entertainment to Pakistan.

Rudranath Talukdar: I am sick and tired of stupid reporters who keep trying to send a team to Pakistan when it is clear that Pakistan is continuing to indulge in terrorism.

Perhaps Onkar Singh's friends and relatives are not amongst the Jawan's and civilians being killed every day by terrorists.

I cannot fathom Jag Dalmiya's motives either. Actually I can. He is trying to rope the Pakistanis in to help him in his problems with the ICC. The sooner Mr. Dalmiya retires, the better.

Shailesh, from Chantilly, VA: I guess, the name of the game is finance and not cricket. The reason I wanna support our government's stand of not playing against pakistan is that its hurting their coffers badly and thats very comforting. India can still do good without playing pakistan whereas its self-determental for pakistan not to play India as they know of no other way to channelise their cohesive force but against India.

On a side note: I did wish there were more sachin-akram confrontations. But then thats a small sacrifice compared to our soldiers paying at the LOC.

Rajeev Jain: Good to see you back. Welcome as the rediff will be more fun to read.

You have asked for our response about this article/subject. We should not send our under 19 team to Pakistan.

Why?

Here is the reason but read completely as the initial part may seem like anti Pakistan:

Pakistan's policy of all 56 years have been to bleed India thru their mujahedden activity in Kashmir. They believe that by doing these small terrorist acts, they can bleed India and keep it on its toe. Now, Pakistan cricket board needs Money and need it urgently as no other country is also touring them from last 2 years.

Pakistan cricket board will make lots and lots of money even in under 19 tours from TV rights and advertising companies. They are bleeding us thru violence then why should n't we bleed their cricket board thru non-violence by not sending our team. We believe in Non-violence (according to the father of nation) after all.

Venky Naganathan: Pak venues is a genuine risk for Indian players. With this inferior Pak team, these risks multiply manifold.

We should play however in Sharjah & other neutral venues against Pakistan, but never in Pakistan for the forseeable future!

I would love to watch India & Pak go at each other, but player's security is far more important.

Dheeraj Kakar: I'm sure you will get a multitude of opinions on the political relations and government policy towards cricketing ties. Don't know - don't care.

For me it's more a question of security. Would I want to go to pakistan today and walk down a street of a hotel lobby with in all caps INDIAN written on me? I don't think so! Being a cricket fan and a fan of the Indian team, how can I make these guys go do what I wont feel safe doing. We know there is a multitude of gun toting young men wanting to go to heaven via kill-the-Indian route.

And by the way; how many other countries have been to a full tour of Pakistan in the last few years? Let the aussies and the brits go play a test series, and then we'll think about it.

Neeraj Krishnan, Rutgers U: On the India-Pakistan cricket issue, if our objective is to normalize relations, then the best way is through trade. Cricket is a (very) profitable business for both cricket boards involved.

The way forward is for both boards to keep working with their legislators, starting off from a neutral venue (what happened to Toronto?) and the A tours and gradually to full test tours. I think we should support the board when it pleads for cricket with Pakistan. I am surprised that the respective team sponsors are not lobbying for this too. With normal trade ties, there will be sufficient pressure on legislators of both countries to keep honest.

Exploiting avenues of mutual profit is a precondition to normal and productive ties, not requiring preconditions of its own.

If, however, the objective is something else, I think they are doing just fine.

Anand Srinivasan: Let me start this mail by categorically saying that India should not undertake any kind of tour to Pakistan. Wait...wait...I know you are thinking whether I am in anyway related to Modis or Thackerays!!No..I am a faithful Indian who drove for 50 miles and stood continuously for 8 hours to make sure India beat Pakistan in the world cup 2003.

Let me ask you a simple question, do you go visiting one's house if he repeatedly make plans to destroy your home or kill your family members?

Rather you would sit down and think about protecting your house and relatives. Now let's talk about the reality. Think about Musharaf, mastermind behind Kargil war and who hatched a plan to invade Srinagar.

Think about those coffins, packed with the remains of our armed personnels, flown to their respective home towns every now and then. Think of those invaders, with Pakistani license to kill any Indians, filtering across to India everyday. All these happens despite, those peace initiatives made repetedly by our prime minister or those medical treatments to keep up the heart-beats of young Pakistanis.

This remind me of a dialogue in Sunny Deol's movie "The Hero" - "ek baar jo galthi karae woh naadhaan, do baar jho galthi karae woh shaithaan, baar baar jho galthi karae woh pakistan..".

Now tell me, is it worth sending our Indian cricket team to Pakistan???

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