Cricket diplomacy

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cricket has had a hand historically in enhancing political ties.

Cricket diplomacy consists of using the game of cricket as a political tool to enhance or worsen the diplomatic relations between two cricket playing nations. Cricket is the second-most widely played game in the world after football, and is thus used as a political tool to bridge gaps in diplomacy between competing countries.

Australia and England

Main article: The Ashes

The

James Henry Thomas that this would cause a significant impact on trade between the nations.[4][5] The standoff was settled only when Australian prime minister Joseph Lyons met with members of the Australian Board and outlined to them the severe economic hardships that could be caused in Australia if the British public boycotted Australian trade. Given this understanding, the Board withdrew the allegation of unsportsmanlike behaviour two days before the fourth Test, thus saving the tour.[5][6]

There were significant consequences for Anglo-Australian relations, which remained strained until the outbreak of World War II made cooperation paramount. Business between the two countries was adversely affected as citizens of each country displayed a preference for not buying goods manufactured in the other. Australian commerce also suffered in British colonies in Asia: the North China Daily News published a pro-bodyline editorial, denouncing Australians as sore losers. An Australian journalist reported that several business deals in Hong Kong and Shanghai were lost by Australians because of local reactions.[7]

English immigrants in Australia found themselves shunned and persecuted by locals, and Australian visitors to England were treated similarly.

Prince Albert in Sydney was vandalised, with an ear being knocked off and the word "BODYLINE" painted on it.[9]

India and Pakistan

Yousuf Raza Gilani interacting with the Pakistani Cricket Team ahead of the India vs Pakistan semi-final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup
.
Main article: India–Pakistan cricket rivalry

Following the

Zia ul-Haq, attended a test match between India and Pakistan in Jaipur – a visit that apparently helped cool a flare-up in tensions since it led to a meeting with the Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.[10][11] Furthermore, in 2004 after a break of fifteen years, India toured Pakistan in the wake of diplomatic initiatives to bury half a century of mutual hostility. Both sides relaxed their tough visa regulations for each other, allowing thousands of fans to travel across the border.[12]

In an attempt to replicate the cricket diplomacy of the past General

Kargil conflict
, and at various other times, there have also been calls to suspend cricketing ties between the two countries.

During the

Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the match with him at Mohali. Gilani subsequently accepted the offer and agreed to watch the match with Singh.[18][19] In 2015, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani requested the Indian government to allocate a cricket stadium for the Afghan team in India.[20]

China and Taiwan

Main article: Cross-Strait relations

Extending a form of

St. Lucia also built both a cricket and a football stadium courtesy of China. China spent a remarkable $132 million on cricket facilities in the West Indies over the past few years, compared to the International Cricket Council's 10-year budget of $70 million to promote cricket globally. The diplomacy paid off in the end as Grenada and Dominica derecognized Taiwan as an independent country. In 2009, of the remaining 24 countries that recognized Taiwan, four were in the Caribbean and two of those played cricket.[21] Previously, Grenada had a stadium built by Taiwan, but it was damaged by a hurricane. To join the action, China quickly came in to erect another stadium. Consequently, Taiwan took Grenada to a New York City
court to force the latter to return the original loan.

Taiwan also used the World Cup to shore up its position among its shrinking West Indian support base. It doled out $21 million to

Caribbean Islands as "Strategic analysts say China is laying out more money than is needed to just isolate Taiwan. China, which has built large embassies in each of the islands, now has a bigger diplomatic presence in the Caribbean than the United States, the superpower next door." And that "Mainland China's long-term strategy coincides with its foreign policy."[21]

India and Australia

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi along with the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese at the fourth test of the 2022-23 Border Gavaskar Trophy alongside the captains of the two teams, Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith at the "75 Years of Friendship through Cricket Event.
Main article: 75 Years of Friendship through Cricket Event
See also: Australia–India relations § Cricket

In March 2023,

diplomatic and cricket relations between two the countries. The two PMs visited the "Hall of fame" museum inside the stadium.[22]

The event began with the two prime ministers singing the

national anthems of their respective countries and shaking hands with the players of both teams. They then visited a gallery showcasing glimpses of 75 years of cricket friendship between the two countries. The two PMs visited the "Hall of fame" museum inside the stadium.[23][24]

The event concluded with the two prime ministers

Test match. They sat in the presidential gallery of the stadium and witnessed some of the initial moments of the match.[25]

England and Zimbabwe

In 2008, the

2008 Zimbabwean presidential election.[26] MPs Jack Straw and Tessa Jowell wrote to the International Cricket Council asking them to ban Zimbabwe from international cricket.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ Frith, pp. 241–259.
  2. ^ Pollard, p. 259.
  3. ^ Frith, p. 222.
  4. ^ Frith, pp. 242–248.
  5. ^ a b Pollard, pp. 260–261.
  6. ^ Frith, pp. 255–259.
  7. ^ Frith, p. 382.
  8. ^ Frith, p. 383.
  9. ^ Frith, p. 384.
  10. ISSN 0190-8286
    . Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  11. ^ Aziz, Shaikh (15 November 2015). "A leaf from history: Cricket diplomacy checks war pitch". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  12. ^ "India tries cricket diplomacy - International Herald Tribune". www.iht.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009.
  13. ^ "Musharraf visits India amid cricket diplomacy". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  14. ^ "India, Pakistan cricket diplomacy no game it's real". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Navigation News - Frontline". Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  16. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News". Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  17. ^ UNU Update: Cricket Diplomacy Archived 21 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "- Video - Pak PM Gilani arrives in Chandigarh - Sports Videos - - India Today". Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  19. ^ "- Video - 'Cricket brings India Pak together' - Sports Videos - - India Today". Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  20. ^ "Modi Should Engage in Cricket Diplomacy with Afghanistan". The Indian Talks. 25 April 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015.
  21. ^ a b "China Outplays Taiwan in Cricket Diplomacy". ABC News. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  22. ISSN 0971-751X
    . Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  23. ISSN 0971-751X
    . Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Albanese-Modi bromance at Gujarat cricket stadium; annual summit tomorrow". Hindustan Times. 9 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  25. ^ "India and Australia celebrates '75 years of friendship through cricket' at Narendra Modi Stadium". CMO Gujarat. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  26. ^ "England cut Zimbabwe cricket ties". 25 June 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Zimbabwe is facing new ban threat". 21 August 2005. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
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