Exhibit 1 : Jaipur crowd booing Sreesanth for giving “local boy” Kamran Akmal the stare.
Exhibit 2 : The Kolkata crowd goes wild with joy after Shoaib Akhtar takes the wickets of Sehwag and Gambhir.
Question :
When India and Pakistan play each other next - will the “arch-rivals” tag still stick ? Will too much shoulder rubbing between the players of the two countries dilute the intensity associated with India-Pak matches ?
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
i completely agree with you for once Some1.
it is corrosive to pakistani values, and dilutes the important boundaries our respective countries were founded on. this is why it is unpatriotic, frankly treasonous for Pakistani players to sell their principles for a quick buck or two.
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
some1- you raise some good points...
ravage - First, Some1 bhai posed a question to discuss, I dont see what you are completely agreeing on. Second, your post seems offtopic.
About loyalites to the national team: I hope they stay true, I like to believe its a tournament to see all the best players in the world playing cricket and entertaining fans, but an Indian player will take precedence over any opposing player when a national game is being played. Also I believe, Indian public forgives and forgets easily...a player who does well in IPL will definitely have some good exposure, but if you dont perform for India at the national level, you will get buried under the pressure soon enough. Also remember IPL is only a month long, national games occur throughout the year.
About the rivalry: To be honest, I have not seen the same India-Pak rivalry in a while. Too many games, more comradery between the players, peace process between the countries has something to do with that no doubt. But the tag will stick, and if the games are competitive (unlike recent times), then I believe rivalry and the tension increases. I mean take Aus-Eng for example, there was a fantastic ashes series when England won, they were rivals, but when aussies wooped them in the test series, it died down. I believe a consistent competitiveness plays a big part.
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
Exhibit 1 : Jaipur crowd booing Sreesanth for giving "local boy" Kamran Akmal the stare.
Exhibit 2 : The Kolkata crowd goes wild with joy after Shoaib Akhtar takes the wickets of Sehwag and Gambhir.
Question : When India and Pakistan play each other next - will the "arch-rivals" tag still stick ? Will too much shoulder rubbing between the players of the two countries dilute the intensity associated with India-Pak matches ?
To your question..
Not enough data yet to answer one way or the other.
At least this help to answer the ever lasting criticism of poor sportsman spirit of Indian public.
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
Actually if this helps reduce the sting and hurt to national pride whem Pak loses to India or Indian team loses, it will be a good thing.
Loyalty to sports team is unnecessary and is fundementally incongruous to the spirit of sport which is "just play your best".
It is stupid to call Pak players traitors for playing in IPL. With politicians and military openly hawking Pak and begging the west, what's treacherous in Shaib playing a game in IPL?
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
Exhibit 1 : Jaipur crowd booing Sreesanth for giving "local boy" Kamran Akmal the stare.
Exhibit 2 : The Kolkata crowd goes wild with joy after Shoaib Akhtar takes the wickets of Sehwag and Gambhir.
Question : When India and Pakistan play each other next - will the "arch-rivals" tag still stick ? Will too much shoulder rubbing between the players of the two countries dilute the intensity associated with India-Pak matches ?
This obviously new to you. Its been happening for atleast 30 years in the NHL, MLB, NBA, FIFA and european league soccer etc etc, rugby...
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
The introduction of IPL has played less part in dissecting the damage between the two countries or even between India vs. any country for that matter. It may have limited the viewership to specific players and cases (Shoaib vs. anyone, Sreesanth rushing in, Afridi batting, Gilchrist’s sixes etc), but however, it is the same in International cricket too. A few players in the team are more attractive to watch than the rest, IPL has brought those players together with the local boys to give that sparkle to the tournament.
The rivalry is always going to be there, even when Twenty/20’s are over. The intensity will increase further, as Pidbull mentioned, if the wickets are made worthwhile to contest upon. The recent dead series indicated the poor quality of cricket in the International arena.
IPL, on the other hand, has ensured that there is no fair contest between bat and ball, and the bridge between the two is furthered with worthless assistance from short boundaries. For a team full of all-rounders, hitting the ball an extra 10-12 meters would be something that is expected from any good batsman.
Pidbull :k:
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
Exhibit 1 : Jaipur crowd booing Sreesanth for giving "local boy" Kamran Akmal the stare.
Exhibit 2 : The Kolkata crowd goes wild with joy after Shoaib Akhtar takes the wickets of Sehwag and Gambhir.
Question : When India and Pakistan play each other next - will the "arch-rivals" tag still stick ? Will too much shoulder rubbing between the players of the two countries dilute the intensity associated with India-Pak matches ?
IMO, the tag of "arch-rivals" will never get out of the system. and honestly the intensity will not be toned down at the cost of IPL. just because some players mingle and play with the other in one league team does not warrant any kind of dilution. well with all due respect Men in Green and Blue have Passion and unwavering loyalty for their countries and no such billion buck league(s) can somber up dignified passion for one's country.
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
Pakistani players have been playing county cricket in England for a long period of time. They were loved by their county team members and fans alike. But, when the likes of Akram and Waqar came out to play for Pakistan against England... there was no love that I could spot for english batsmen or their fans. In-fact, they bowled with more aggression than they did in many Indian encounters.
IPL is noora cricket anyway. Here today gone tomorrow.
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
I understand the bit about NHL/NBA and County Cricket which are patterned on silimar lines as IPL.
But I am trying to relate the current scene with the India-Pak rivalry in the 80s and 90s -
From the perspective of an Indian fan in the 80s, players like Imran Khan, Miandad, Zaheer Abbas etc had that "enemy country players" feel about them.
In the 90s, due to the Kashmir/Kargil tension, India-Pak games automatically became high-voltage.
However, post 2000 ---- you can sense it is not the same....first of all the political relation between India-Pak is vastly improved, secondly India and Pakistan are playing too much cricket between themselves and now with IPL - Pakistani and Indian players are even wearing the same jerseys.(along with Bollywood stars !!)
I am not necessarily saying that the above is bad --- but only that India-Pak cricket rivalry is not likely to evoke the same kind of "pressure-cooker" emotions in the general public as before.
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
^^ I understand a lot of people miss the intense rivalry between Indian and Pakistani Cricket teams. It is not the same anymore because of better relations and now IPL. Overall it is better this way. Yes we lose the intense cricket rivalry, but we gain in better political relations which could possibly lead to less military conflicts which is far more important than enjoying watching a damn game.
Re: IPL and collapse of the nation-state
also increasing the love among fellow countrymen....
Exhibit 3
Indian Premier League - 44th match
Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals 2007/08 season
Played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on 20 May 2008
Sohail Tanvir c Salman Butt b Umar Gul
chalo kam az kam catch pakarna to seekh gaya bacha 