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The Print
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup? Cricket with terror state Pakistan is good for business after all
Money talks louder than politics. So all kinds of silly excuses are being offered to justify overturning the precedent set just a week ago, when former players such as Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, and brothers Irfan and Yusuf Pathan refused to play the match against Pakistan. Apparently, if India doesn't participate in Asia Cup, it would amount to giving Pakistan a walk-over, which would apparently be ' terrible '. (Oh really?) It should be a political debate, because that's how the issue has been treated for decades. But in reality, it's a financial issue. The organisers of the tournament stand to make millions and cannot afford to have India pull out, as that would dent their profits. The same goes for the TV channels, which have paid crores to broadcast the tournament. They don't want to see their investment collapse if India withdraws. Should India play cricket with Pakistan? More crucially, after several former Indian cricketers boycotted the match against Pakistan in the ongoing World Championship of Legends tournament, should we participate in the forthcoming Asia Cup where India could end up playing three matches against Pakistan? Then there's the argument that India's desire to host the 2036 Olympics prevents us from boycotting tournaments for political reasons. Never mind that: a) The Asia Cup has nothing to do with the Olympics and is not organised by the Olympic Committee; b) That has never stopped us from boycotting sport with Pakistan before; c) There is a long and honourable tradition of countries refusing to play sport with others for so-called 'political reasons.' England wasn't ostracised when it refused to play South Africa during apartheid. The US wasn't drummed out of the comity of nations when it boycotted the Moscow Olympics over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. These are pathetic, bogus excuses offered by money-hungry men and their toadies. Also read: Those separating cricket from politics after Reasi tragedy are either delusional or Pakistani India set the precedent for boycott in sports To see through these lies, we need only remind ourselves of a few basic facts. There is a precedent for sports boycotts. For decades, India — and then the rest of the civilised world — refused to play with South Africa because it disapproved of apartheid. Even then, there were people (mainly White men) who opposed this position, pushing the same bogus argument still advanced by greedy interests: that sport should be free of politics. In other words, it's perfectly okay to pretend to be gentlemen together on the playing field with countries that legitimise bigotry and racism or murder people in pursuit of political ends. In politics, military and trade, we should shun and isolate these countries, but when it comes to cricket, they are just jolly good chaps who we must engage with because 'sports should be free of politics.' Right? That's like the Allies saying during World War 2: 'We will defeat the Nazis and save humanity—but hey, why not play a game or two with these genocidal maniacs? It's only sport after all.' If you accept the principle of sporting sanctions — and India was among the first countries to advocate boycotts — then you only need to ask: is there a difference between apartheid-era South Africa and today's Pakistan? I don't even need to answer that. Home Minister Amit Shah and much of the Modi government have been answering in Parliament for the past several days. Also read: Play Pakistan, know Pakistan—why Indian cricket can't afford to let go of the golden window Like apartheid, stand against Pakistani terror Pakistan is a terror state; a sponsor of terrorism against India. The Pahalgam massacre was clearly organised by Pakistanis. To even ask whether the terrorists came from Pakistan is now seen as treason. That's why we attacked terror camps in Pakistan. That's why we launched Operation Sindoor. That's why our armed forces risked their lives. We must cripple Pakistan so it can never take another Indian life again. To this, the supporters of India's participation in the Asia Cup ask: 'But while we are crippling Pakistan, can't we at least make crores by playing cricket with them? Does that even deserve a response? For decades, India has urged the world to declare Pakistan a terrorist state. When Donald Trump hyphenates India and Pakistan, we get agitated and ask: 'How can you speak of us in the same breath as these terrorists? You should be chastising and isolating Pakistan, not equating us.' But now we say: Don't isolate them while we are playing cricket with them, please! There are big bucks in it for us!' In moral terms, apartheid was an abomination. We could have treated it as South Africa's internal matter. But we didn't — we stood up for human rights. Pakistan-sponsored terrorism is just as bad, morally. But for us, it's even worse. With apartheid, we were taking a principled global stand. Here, our own people are being murdered. This isn't abstract morality. This is a question of Indian lives. If anything, we should take an even stronger stand than we did in global cases. Also read: This argument isn't about cricket but the Subcontinent's geopolitics. That's why it begins with cricket Stop with the bonhomie drivel Finally, let's dispose of the one argument that is always trotted out after the 'keep politics out of sport' drivel collapses: 'We should play sport with Pakistan because people-to-people contact brings peace and understanding.' But does it? One of the first things Pakistan did after we resumed cricket ties was to send militants into Kashmir to foment insurrection. Is there any evidence that cricket has improved relations between the two countries? Don't swallow the two big lies in these discussions. First, India-Pakistan matches are not occasions of bonhomie and goodwill, as we are constantly told. They are spectacles of jingoism and hostility. When India plays Pakistan, it's rare to hear an Indian say, 'These Pakistanis are jolly good chaps.' What you do hear is: 'Crush the b_____s.' Second, don't buy the nonsense that the problem lies only with the Pakistani government, while ordinary Pakistanis love India because of cricket. The people who say this are either professional liars or have never met a Pakistani. During Operation Sindoor, Pakistanis rallied around their government, wished death on Indian forces, and celebrated when their media told them Pakistan had defeated India. There was no people-to-people love. We may blather on about 'Aman Ki Asha', but the only 'Aman' Pakistanis have ever admired is Zeenat Aman. Let's not kid ourselves about why cricket administrators want India to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup. It has nothing to do with India's interests. All they care about is the interest that will accumulate — in their bank accounts. Vir Sanghvi is a print and television journalist, and talk show host. He tweets @virsanghvi. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
India-Pakistan Clash In Asia Cup Stirs Political Row Months After Pahalgam Attack
New Delhi: An upcoming India-Pakistan cricket face-off scheduled just months after border tension and a ghastly terror attack has stirred a political controversy in the country. India will take on Pakistan on September 14, per the Asia Cup 2025 schedule, putting on display the greatest rivalry in cricket's history for a Sunday watch. The match - scheduled barely four months after the Pahalgam terror attack - has triggered a massive Opposition pushback, reflecting a consistent call for boycotting Pakistan, even in sports. At least 26 people had died in the April 22 attack carried out by terrorists from Pakistan, followed by Indian strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), and an escalation in the border situation. Pakistan and its deep state are accused of backing terror as a weapon to destabilise India. Recently, an India-Pakistan match in the World Championship of Legends, being held in England, was cancelled after several Indian retired players -- like Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, and Shikhar Dhawan -- had withdrawn citing the Pahalgam attack. The Asia Cup 2025 schedule was released yesterday, coinciding with the Kargil Vijay Diwas, which marks India's victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to comment on the schedule. What Opposition Said The Opposition has questioned how India could play Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, pointing out that the terrorists involved in the massacre remain on the loose. They slammed what they called a "rush to earn blood money" and suggested that sports diplomacy must take a backseat in the current situation. Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha MP from the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, slammed "profit" over "blood of the forces", and said Indians would oppose any cricket match with Pakistan, no matter if it is played in the country or abroad. "Dear BCCI, remember all of us Indians will protest any engagement with Pakistan on the cricket ground whichever country you move this to. Stop your profit over the blood of Indians and Armed Forces. On one hand India's CDS has said Operation Sindoor is ongoing and on the other hand you'll rush to earn your blood money," she said. Sukhdeo Bhagat, Lok Sabha MP from Jharkhand, was among the Congress voices to express dissent over the Asia Cup schedule. Under the current circumstances, sports would not play an important role, he said. "Many people say that sports should be kept separate from politics or everything else, but patriotism and national sentiments of the entire country are hurt due to the acts of Pakistan. We should take further steps only after taking strong action against them," added the Lok Sabha MP from Lohardaga. Mohammed Azharuddin, who captained the India Team during the 1990s, also weighed in. He said that India should not play international games with Pakistan if it is opting out of bilateral events. "My stand is that if you are not playing bilateral events, then you should not play international events either. But whatever the government and the board decide will happen," said Mr Azharuddin, who has been with the Congress. Eight countries will take part in the Asia Cup 2025 from September 9. The India-Pakistan clash in the group stage is set for September 14. Both teams are favoured for the Super Four stage and may meet again during the tournament. If both teams manage to get to the finals, a third clash is also likely.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab minister contradicted, Union ministry says no proposal to set up 3 power units
Chandigarh: Contradicting Punjab power minister Harbhajan Singh's claim that it approved three 800-MW power units in Punjab, the Union ministry of power has clarified it had not received any such proposal. The clarification came in response to a query in the Lok Sabha by Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi, who sought details regarding central govt's approval to three new thermal units of 800 MW each — two in Ropar and one at a new location. Responding to Channi's question, the ministry stated: "No such proposal has been received in the ministry of power." The rebuttal follows Harbhajan Singh's announcement on June 7, after the Conference of North Indian Power Ministers in Delhi, chaired by Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The conference was attended by energy representatives from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Delhi. Harbhajan Singh claimed that the Centre approved the setting up of two additional plants, each of 800 MW capacity, at Ropar. Additionally, he claimed, approval was granted to setting up a new 800-MW power plant at another location to meet Punjab's growing electricity demand. Despite repeated attempts, Harbhajan Singh could not be contacted for comment on the Union ministry's disclosure. However, the Union ministry clarified that under Section 7 of the Electricity Act, 2003, setting up power generation units was a de-licensed activity. This means states and private entities do not require prior central govt approval to establish power plants, provided they comply with grid connectivity and technical standards. The ministry stated said ensuring adequate power generation to meet electricity demand within a state fell under the jurisdiction of the respective state govt or its power utility. Addressing a query on coal supply, the ministry highlighted several ongoing national initiatives aimed at reducing bottlenecks in coal logistics. It said coal linkage rationalisation had been implemented to reduce transportation distances between coal mines and power plants. Flexibility has also been provided to state and central generating companies (Gencos) in utilisation of domestic coal by state/central Gencos amongst their generating stations to reduce the cost of power generation by allocating more coal to their most efficient plants as well as by saving in transportation cost. The Coal Logistic Plan and Policy, spearheaded by the Ministry of Coal, focuses on enhancing supply chain efficiency through key railway infrastructure projects that reduce logistics costs and improve the timeliness of coal deliveries across the country.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab minister contradicted, Union ministry says no proposal to set up 3 power units
Chandigarh: Contradicting Punjab power minister Harbhajan Singh's claim that it approved three 800-MW power units in Punjab, the Union ministry of power has clarified it had not received any such proposal. The clarification came in response to a query in the Lok Sabha by Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi, who sought details regarding central govt's approval to three new thermal units of 800 MW each — two in Ropar and one at a new location. Responding to Channi's question, the ministry stated: "No such proposal has been received in the ministry of power." The rebuttal follows Harbhajan Singh's announcement on June 7, after the Conference of North Indian Power Ministers in Delhi, chaired by Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The conference was attended by energy representatives from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Delhi. Harbhajan Singh claimed that the Centre approved the setting up of two additional plants, each of 800 MW capacity, at Ropar. Additionally, he claimed, approval was granted to setting up a new 800-MW power plant at another location to meet Punjab's growing electricity demand. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn more about Sterilization Using Autoclave Technology contentcuehub Search Now Undo Despite repeated attempts, Harbhajan Singh could not be contacted for comment on the Union ministry's disclosure. However, the Union ministry clarified that under Section 7 of the Electricity Act, 2003, setting up power generation units was a de-licensed activity. This means states and private entities do not require prior central govt approval to establish power plants, provided they comply with grid connectivity and technical standards. The ministry stated said ensuring adequate power generation to meet electricity demand within a state fell under the jurisdiction of the respective state govt or its power utility. Addressing a query on coal supply, the ministry highlighted several ongoing national initiatives aimed at reducing bottlenecks in coal logistics. It said coal linkage rationalisation had been implemented to reduce transportation distances between coal mines and power plants. Flexibility has also been provided to state and central generating companies (Gencos) in utilisation of domestic coal by state/central Gencos amongst their generating stations to reduce the cost of power generation by allocating more coal to their most efficient plants as well as by saving in transportation cost. The Coal Logistic Plan and Policy, spearheaded by the Ministry of Coal, focuses on enhancing supply chain efficiency through key railway infrastructure projects that reduce logistics costs and improve the timeliness of coal deliveries across the country.
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First Post
21-07-2025
- Sport
- First Post
'Bring Kuldeep directly': Harbhajan Singh presses Gambhir-Gill with decisive suggestion ahead of 4th Test against England
Ahead of the start of the 4th Test, Harbhajan Singh has urged Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill to trust in the talents of Kuldeep Yadav, and include the bowler in the playing XI for the 4th Test. read more With the 4th Test about to begin in Manchester, Team India stands at a delicate position in the series at 2-1. As injuries have mounted, it is needless to say that the playing XI will be tweaked for the penultimate Test match against England. One to two modifications are expected in the side that entered the Lord's. However, at this point, it is anybody's guess what changes the team management will make. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the guessing game is on, experts are busy suggesting the names who should be picked for the 4th Test. The bracket includes former India bowler Harbhajan Singh, who has straight up stated that Kuldeep Yadav should be included in the side. Harbhajan Singh vouches for Kuldeep Yadav As per Singh, Yadav can hoodwink the English batters with his variations and must get picked in the 4th Test. 'I had said before the Lord's Test and also for the Birmingham Test that Kuldeep should play. Because the kind of free-flowing batting these Englishmen do, it is not that easy to him. If such a spinner spins it both sides, then he can become a mystery bowler and take wickets at crucial times,' Singh told India Today. 'In Test cricket, it is not just that they are waiting for the new ball. Let a few overs be bowled. If nothing much is happening, then Kuldeep Yadav can take wickets. If it was my team, I would drop Nitish and bring Kuldeep directly in the team,' he added. Harbhajan Singh had seemingly shared his critique before the unfortunate news of Nitish Kumar Reddy's injury surfaced. Reddy has been ruled out of the ongoing India vs England Test series due to a knee injury and will miss the fourth as well as the fifth Test. Howbeit, whether Kuldeep Yadav will get an opportunity to play remains uncertain, with only time revealing the team's decision. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
