Following this year’s terrorist attack on the Indian Army camp in Uri, the situation has gone from bad to worse over a couple of days between the Indian Government and their Pakistani counterparts. The diplomatic ties between the nations have seemingly broken down, products have been banned and most important of them all, and sports events either boycotted or not allowing the other to participate.
In the international stage, the Pakistani sportspersons are being boycotted into tournaments which are likely to result in havoc over the Pakistani sports condition. Both the sides are shooting allegations at each other and slugging off of the opponent’s patience. However, the worse is yet to come for those who might think the worse is yet to come. Here are five sporting events that are going to affect Pakistan and its sportspersons in the coming months.
#1 2016 Kabaddi World Cup
The 2016 edition of the Kabaddi World Cup is going to kick off on from November 3 in the Indian border state of Gujarat. The two weeks long tournament will be participated by the likes of United States, Australia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Iran and Thailand.
However, following the Government of India’s recent stance towards the neighbours, the Kabaddi Federation of India has also decided not to invite Pakistan to the tournament. Reportedly, the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation has requested the world governing body of the sport to postpone the tournament and change the venue from India to elsewhere.
But, going by the recent trends, it is unlikely the demands of the Pakistani federation will be met, whereas the tournament is scheduled to begin in less than a month.
Pakistan is the six-time runners up country in the prestigious tournament and the absence of the Pakistani players, the tournament is bound to lose its usual charm.
#2 India vs Pakistan One Day International match, 2017
India is scheduled to play a Champions Trophy ODI Cricket match against the neighbours, Pakistan on June 4, 2017. However, it is now safe to assume that the ODI match will not be played as the governing organisation of Cricket in India, BCCI president Anurag Thakur had previously requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) not to put the two nations in the same group for “multi-nation” tournaments.
Now as per the recent fixtures, both teams have been put in the same group in the forthcoming Champions Trophy next year. It has been more than three years the Asian neighbours had faced each other, in which India came out victorious.
At its best, the Edgbaston match next year is going to make a lot of headlines.
#3 Badminton World Cup
The previous month was full of nightmares for the sportspersons’ community of Pakistan. In less than 48 hours of BCCI president Anurag Thakur’s request to ICC not to put India and Pakistan in the same group in any major ICC tournament, the Indian Badminton association (BAI) decided to boycott Pakistan International Series later this month.
The Pakistan International Tournament boycott is a massive blow to the Badminton players of Pakistan. In a BAI issued press release, the president of Badminton Association of India Dr.Akhilesh Gupta revealed that the decision was taken as an act of solidarity with the recent decisions taken by the Government of India following the severe tensed situation between the two countries.
However, this might just not be the last screw to the coffin of the Badminton community of Pakistan as other participants could also follow India boycotting the tournament in the coming days.
#4 2017 SAFF Football Championship
The sports relations between the two countries might just receive another blow in the upcoming SAFF Championship next year. The 12th edition of the tournament will see the defending champions India participating in the tournament with cross-border neighbour Pakistan as well as countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
The previous month saw three of the four countries mentioned above boycott the SAARC summit in Pakistan, following the decision of India to boycott the same.
Countries of the Indian sub-continent are going through a questionable patch in Football since long. Any decision regarding boycotting Pakistan might put the participating nation in the way of a self-thrown boomerang. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted by Bangladesh in December next year.
#2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup
Her Majesty’s Empire has been a frequent critic of Pakistan regarding terrorism. England will be hosting the Women’s Cricket World Cup next year in almost a one-month long span between June 26 and July 23.
In the following days of the Uri Attack, the British have condemned the terrorist attack on the Army camp in Uri. As several SAARC countries and most notably India who is a strong ally of the English, has boycotted Pakistan in recent both political and sports events, the future of the event is unclear.
However, ICC has not declared the participating countries of the tournament yet, but judging on the recent performance and standings of the Pakistan Women’s Cricket team, one can presume easily that both the Indians and the Pakistanis should make the cut.
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