How Facebook is uniting Indian and Pakistani cricket fans

In the face of protests by certain organizations against Pakistani cricketers, sports lovers of both nations have conveyed the message yet again that cricket can never divide them. Instead, cricket is a phenomenon that can unite people from both sides of the border.

Thousands of citizens – from Karachi to Lahore and from Kashmir to Kolkata – have started changing their profile pictures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to promote the peace that is desired by everyone.

An online campaign #ProfileforPeace is doing the rounds to put a halt to the hate politics existing between the two countries.

On one hand, Pakistan cricket fans are changing their display pictures to support the Indian cricket team and on the other, Indian cricket fans are doing the same to show their support for the Pakistan cricket team.

Joining in the #ProfileForPeace campaign initiated by Nudrrat Khawaja/ Samir Gupta

Posted by Sehyr Mirza on Saturday, March 12, 2016

While the India-Pakistan World T20 match was moved from the original venue Dharamsala to Eden Gardens, the Pakistan Cricket Board took a strong stance and sent their team to participate amidst security concerns.

With Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik happy with the security arrangements, cricket lovers want their teams to provide entertainment and only entertainment. Not a war, nor a fight.

Maybe there is hope yet

In the recent past, there have been several instances of hatred being spewed against Pakistan by Indian political parties, and vice-versa.

But now people of different ages and walks of life have taken matters into their own hands by changing their display image with beautiful captions to show their support for the fans of the other nation. The campaign, which is winning hearts everywhere, has gone viral on social media and resulted in an avalanche of profile pictures.

#ProfileForPeace I am from India and I don't hate Pakistan! Saw two Indians and two Pakistanis on my timeline who did...

Posted by Ram Subramanian on Saturday, March 12, 2016

If there is one thing that can reduce the tension, then it has to be cricket. So let's use this game to bring people together, to support peace and answer terrorists.

Because we’re all the same

Cricket can indeed heal scars and unite nations

There are people on both sides who survive by spreading hatred. But these people don't represent the two nations. There are also people like me, who don't look at cricketers as enemies.

While there will always be blood-thirsty individuals who want to go for all-out-war, things can't work that way in real life. Boycotting matches and digging up pitches cannot be the solution. Instead, such activities can give birth to several more problems.

So when we turn on the television over the coming weeks, let's discard the stereotypes we usually have regarding these two countries. Let's just appreciate the life and spirit of this game – irrespective of whether the players are wearing blue or green jerseys or a combination of both.

May the best team win.