MEMBERS of the national cricket team finally got Indian visas in order to take part in the World Cup. This happened only after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was kept waiting by Indian authorities despite PCB reminders. I wonder what was the need to send reminder; even a single one. Everyone knew what India was trying to do.

We could have simply kept quiet and let the world put pressure on India. As I see it, India was out to humiliate us, and we, by virtue of PCB’s ‘requests’, became a party to it.

Reciprocating India’s attitude, the government should have refused to visit India when the process was being put on hold purely for political reasons. It was India’s strategy to humiliate Pakistan, and to put pressure on the team even before stepping foot on the playing field.

S. Zaki Hasan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2023