With the Cricket World Cup starting on March
11, 2007, fans from all participating nations will be anxious to support
their side as they battle it out in the West Indies. In preparation, the Rogers
Centre was host to a Legends of Cricket game on Saturday, March 3,
featuring rivals India and Pakistan playing a friendly game.
Sponsored by RBC, this game was also brought in conjunction with the
Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cricket Association, who
were both recipients of a share of the proceeds. A majority of the
players participating were veterans of the Sahara Cup series hosted in Toronto during the last years of
the nineties. The Pakistani side was led by veteran all-rounder and
world record holder Wasim Akram,
while India was captained by batsman Ajay
Jadeja. The Pakistani side featured such
notables as virtuoso spin bowler Abdul Qadir,
fast bowler Aquib Javed
and batsman Ijaz Ahmed, while India’s team featured the
likes of pacer Venkatesh Prasad, wicketkeeper
Nayan Mongia and
all-rounder Robin Singh. Pakistan posted a feeble total of
109 which was no challenge for the Indians as they successfully chased
it with seven wickets to spare. While the match was relatively lacklustre, the message was clear. Cricket was
making a comeback to Canada ever since the Sahara Cup
faded into obscurity.
Initially, Pakistan and India had signed on to play each
other for five years in Toronto. However, political strife
between the neighbours resulted in India refusing to play Pakistan for the 1999 season and
subsequently dropping out the next year from playing in Toronto. Indian and Pakistani
cricket fans will now relish the fact that Toronto may once again be a stage
for World Cricket, especially since India and Pakistan have resumed playing each
other in an attempt to establish cordial diplomatic relations and a
potential solution to years of rivalry. The long history of animosity
between these two nations has heightened the passion for cricket as
many view the outcome of a game as a matter of national pride. Twice since
1999, both sides were on the brink of war (perhaps nuclear) and have
been reluctant since then to consider realistic and meaningful
diplomacy, paying only lip service to it. India refuses to negotiate with Pakistan for their alleged support
of insurgents wreaking havoc in India, while Pakistan similarly rejects India’s stance and will
only negotiate if Kashmir is brought to the forefront for talks.
Witnessing the enthusiasm, energy and love
for the game while seated at the Rogers Centre was an experience in
itself. The place throbbed with excitement as the fans clearly made the
game all the more special. Only in a place like Canada, where fans from
both India and Pakistan are seated amidst each other, both
patriotically waving flags and chanting anthems when their team was
playing well and sportingly applauding the other side when the
opportunity presented itself. Over the years, cricket has taken on a
primary role for both sides to come together to resolve their
differences. One can only hope that future matches like these will be
held again in Toronto where there is certainly great enthusiasm for it
from a plethora of expatriates who are anxious not only to see their
side win, but also for some guarantee of peace for the future.
