Former Member of parliament and bjp leader gautam gambhir has repeatedly taken a hardline stance, declaring that india should not play cricket against pakistan, even in prestigious tournaments like those organized by the international cricket Council (ICC). His comments echoed a sentiment often projected by certain political circles—that any sporting engagement with pakistan undermines national dignity and should be boycotted as a form of symbolic resistance. These strong nationalistic positions play well with certain sections of the electorate, especially in emotionally charged times, but they rarely translate into policy.
However, within just three months of such proclamations, the bcci (Board of Control for cricket in India) has scheduled at least two matches against pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup, one of them potentially being a high-stakes final. This isn’t a minor decision—it’s a strategic and commercial call made by one of the most powerful cricket boards in the world. The bcci, under Jay Shah’s leadership, has repeatedly shown that while political rhetoric may call for isolation, cricketing logic, money, and diplomacy tell a different story. When it comes to cricket diplomacy, especially in multi-nation tournaments, idealism often gives way to financial and sporting pragmatism.
This exposes the glaring gap between political propaganda and real-world decision-making. Leaders like Gambhir make emotionally charged statements for public consumption, but when the time comes to walk the talk, the system often backtracks. The double standard is hard to miss: rhetoric is amplified to polarize, but real results rarely follow through. cricket becomes a convenient political football—used to stir nationalism one day and quietly ignored the next when TRPs, sponsorships, and international diplomacy come into play. As fans and citizens, people are increasingly waking up to the fact that in the world of politics and sports, the scoreboard often reads: Propaganda 100%, Results 0% 🤡.
However, within just three months of such proclamations, the bcci (Board of Control for cricket in India) has scheduled at least two matches against pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup, one of them potentially being a high-stakes final. This isn’t a minor decision—it’s a strategic and commercial call made by one of the most powerful cricket boards in the world. The bcci, under Jay Shah’s leadership, has repeatedly shown that while political rhetoric may call for isolation, cricketing logic, money, and diplomacy tell a different story. When it comes to cricket diplomacy, especially in multi-nation tournaments, idealism often gives way to financial and sporting pragmatism.
This exposes the glaring gap between political propaganda and real-world decision-making. Leaders like Gambhir make emotionally charged statements for public consumption, but when the time comes to walk the talk, the system often backtracks. The double standard is hard to miss: rhetoric is amplified to polarize, but real results rarely follow through. cricket becomes a convenient political football—used to stir nationalism one day and quietly ignored the next when TRPs, sponsorships, and international diplomacy come into play. As fans and citizens, people are increasingly waking up to the fact that in the world of politics and sports, the scoreboard often reads: Propaganda 100%, Results 0% 🤡.
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