"Lal said that fans in India see the fixture as a money-making avenue for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), whom they blame for trying to cash in on the profit generated by these high-profile clashes. Lal believes the BCCI, widely regarded as the most wealthy and powerful cricket board in the world, could have easily skipped the match."
"If the Indian government has stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis, if the diplomatic ties are suspended and Pakistanis visiting India have been sent back, then why have the cricketers been asked to play this match in the aftermath of a war? Lal questioned. He expressed fears of a backlash in case India lose the Group A fixture. Whenever India and Pakistan play, emotions run high and a loss is not taken well by fans on either side of the border."
The Asia Cup match between India and Pakistan in Dubai will be played under a cloud of lingering hostility following an intense four-day conflict in May. An internationally brokered ceasefire prevented all-out war, but bitterness endures and many people, especially in India, view the fixture as inappropriate given suspended diplomatic ties and visa restrictions. Critics accuse the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of prioritizing profit by staging the high-profile match. Observers fear a strong backlash if India lose, noting that past India-Pakistan losses have provoked threats, arson, and effigy-burning protests against players and their families.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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