Cricket diplomacy in proper place

With the world cup semi final of the World Cup 2011 taking place at Mohali in India on March

30, it has become the centre of attention of the entire Indian sub continent and all other

cricket loving countries of the world.This semi final has become all important because of it

being played between two achrival neighbours, which have been hostile to each other since it

came into being.

But the game of cricket has the power to bring two countries closer and remove their

differences, which have been irritants for a long time between the two.

Cricket mania is so strong among the fans of the two countries that they always would like

the two countries in a true sporting terms against each other. The rivalry is also so strong

between the two countries that the cricket fans of one country would never like to be

defeated by the other. As far as World Cup match outcome is concerned, India have defeated

four times they have played against the arch rival. So, history speaks in favour of India

and if the previous performance of Team India and its present standard are any thing to go

by, it would successfully cope with the home pressure and win the Semi Final.It is also good

that on the eve Semi Final between India and Pakistan, Home Secretary level talks between

the two have also began.

Taking advantage of the situation, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has played a master

stroke by inviting Pak President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to

watch the Semi Final between Indian and Pakistan in Mohali on March 30. By inviting them ,

PM has used cricket diplomacy very shredly for establishing peace and friendship between the

two countries.

President Asif Ali Zardari has also responded positively by remitting the remaining jail

term of Indian convict Gopal Das, who has been imprisoned in Pakistan for 27 years, days

ahead of a visit to India by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the cricket World

Cup semi-final featuring the teams of the two countries. Zardari remitted the remaining

prison term of Das on humanitarian grounds . The remission was granted on the advice of the

Prime Minister to honour an appeal of the Supreme Court of India to the government of

Pakistan.

Though the Cricket diplomacy was started first by Pak military ruler late General Zia-ul-Haq

who visited Jaipur to watch India Pakistan match, it ended in a draw and so was the result

of his visit. But it is the strength of cricket and other sports to bring the two countries

close to each other without making any preparation.