Between friends

The ongoing cricket series between India and Pakistan is remarkable for an easily-overlooked reason: the complete lack of hostile emotions against the visiting team by the Indian public. There are no war-mongering chants or slogans, no provocative banners and remarkably, no mass demonstrations of hysterical jubilation upon Indian victory or nationwide gloom over its loss. The sense of normalcy has been so wide-spread that even players are no longer talking about moments of high blood pressure or nervousness on match days. Everything is so normal and peaceful that it seems as if India is contesting against any other nation instead of so-called ‘arch-enemy’ Pakistan.

To bring about this change of atmosphere was precisely the goal of the cricket boards and the governments of both countries a few years ago. India’s tour to Pakistan four years ago proved a major breakthrough when visiting Indian fans got a first-hand chance to experience Pakistani hospitality and warmth from people of all walks of life, something that they did not quite expect. Remarkably, India won that series, and instead of any hostility from the fans, all they received were congratulations and admiration. In fact, Pakistanis went out of their way to make Indian cricketers and fans feel at home. And today, the Pakistan cricket team visiting India no longer attracts any superfluous attention. Clearly, we have come a long way since the hostilities and hysteria of the nineties, best remembered for highly-watched matches played in Sharjah and Toronto.

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