The national football teams met on Wednesday for the first time since 2014, with Sunil Chhetri scoring a hat-trick as No. 101-ranked India beat No. 195-ranked Pakistan 4-0 in the SAFF Championship.
In the current political climate, organizing cricket contests between India and Pakistan has become challenging. However, football has shown that it can serve as a means to restore some sporting ties between the two warring nations. (More Football News)
On June 21, the football teams of India and Pakistan faced each other for the first time since 2014. The match took place in Bangalore as part of the SAFF Championship 2023. India, at 101 in the FIFA rankings and led by Sunil Chhetri, thrashed their opponents, ranked 195, 4-0. Chhetri was in his element as he often is, netting a hat-trick.
Although there may have been an on-field altercation, triggered by the red card given to India's coach Igor Stimac for preventing Pakistan from taking a throw-in late in the first half, the fact that the game occurred at all was a reason for satisfaction. This comes at a time when there is much uncertainty surrounding cricket matches, especially with the upcoming World Cup in India.
Haroon Malik, the leader of the committee overseeing the Pakistan Football Federation, expressed optimism about the future of Indo-Pak sport. "It could be a turning point. Football unites the world, and we need to enjoy playing each other and have fun. The emotion of playing India is always special," Malik said.
However, resuming of normal cricketing relations seems a bridge too far, despite the positives from the football game. The Asia Cup, to be held from August 31 to September 17, was going to be played in Pakistan. But the BCCI refused to send India to play in Pakistan, prompting organizers to go for a hybrid model (the tournament will now be jointly held by Sri Lanka and Pakistan).
In response, Pakistan said they would not send a team to play the World Cup in India later this year. As things stand, their foreign ministry is evaluating the plan.
Former Pakistan captain and frequent pot-stirrer Javed Miandad has maintained a strong stance on the discord between the two nations. He feels the team led by Babar Azam should refrain from traveling to India for the World Cup. Miandad argued that since Pakistan had visited India in 2012 and 2016, it was now India's turn to reciprocate the gesture. He emphasized that Pakistan cricket held great significance and continued to produce talented players. Miandad concluded that not going to India would not make a significant difference for Pakistan.
(With PTI Inputs)