Feedback - 'Let the celebration of love continue'

Readers respond to Sambit Bal's Indian View article "Can India match Pakistan's grace and hospitability?":

I firmly believe that fair articles and journalists will reach beyond the borders to the hearts of the people. The key lies in their hands. I vividly remember the Test series of 1978, when India toured Pakistan, under Bedi. Not because Pakistan won, but because Bedi responded to an appeal for blood to a young child who was suffering from leukaemia. I was 14 then. Petty politicians won't be petty politicians if they did not take advantage of such extremist sentiments, as they do now. It applies to both sides of the border. My belief is that no doubt India can and will reciprocate with the kind of hospitality it is capable of. Tahir Khan

Last year Pakistan had realised one thing, that the tour was more than just about who wins. It was more than cricket. It was a celebration of a life, friendship, and most importantly peace. The warmth of love during and after that tour were felt all across the world, and people who never knew cricket, eg in a country like USA, were talking about it. Let us hope and pray that the celebration of love continues. Omar Khan

The article symbolises the feelings of the cricket fans of India who whole-heartedly want to reciprocate how Pakistan treated Indian cricketers. This is not impossible as fans of Chepauk in Chennai showed how gracious Indians can be in defeat by the standing ovation that Wasim Akram's team got. It is just a question of holding back our emotions in control. It can be done, and our neighbours deserve it this time than ever before. Partha

I have absolute faith that Indian people will reciprocate the same good gesture, however I also believe that political interests and fanatics will make every effort to fail the process. The media has huge responsibility to highlight the good feelings and good traditions, whether it's in "basant", cricket or hockey. I am sure the time will come when mass positive response will force the evils to rethink of their agenda. Arslan Haider

People of Karachi, and it would be safe to say that 50% of the city's population has an Indian background, were deprived from the India tour of Pakistan. It was very dissapointing to see Karachi left off the tour, just becasue some idiots were making noise and labelled the city as a security risk, and deprived the city of probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Similarly, why should all of Ahmedabad suffer because of a small group. I think the Indian government should be able to put a clamp on not just this group. The sooner everyone realises that the South Asian coutries have a lot more to gain by accepting each other the better off the subcontinent will be. Imran Mallick

While Mr Bal's remarks regarding the hospitality accorded to the Indian team are valid, it would have also been worth pointing out the spontaneous and generous sentiment that the spectators in Chennai showed to the victorious Pakistani team in the Test in February 1999. That India lost by a mere 12 runs in an excruciatingly close match did not prevent the Chennai spectators (I was one of them) to get on their feet and accord a standing ovation to the Pakistan team, to the astonishment of all. The Pakistan team was effusive in its praise of this unprecedented sporting gesture. It's worth reminding all that despite concerns now over the imminent tour, the past track record of India as hosts is not all that embarrassing. K Chandramouli

I am a Pakistani and we were among the supporters who supported both nations fully, and cheered every four irrespective of if it was played by Inzamam or Dravid, because we didn't wanted to miss this chance of cheering the best cricket played in this part of the world. We have been missing this for years, both nations love this game and we respect this. Aurangzaib Chawla

To expect the BCCI, a group of dollar-fixated, turnstile-obsessed politicos, to understand the subtler cultural elements of Pakistan-India ties is to expect too much. Those charlatans need to be kept far away from the permanent celebration that is Pakistan-India. This official Indian establishment is far too complacent, far too arrogant, far too obtuse, for the good of the game at home. Cricket is far too important to be left to the BCCI. Rahul Goswami

My views are we can. But like India's tour to Pak, it has to have the right political atmosphere. The tour last time was set in motion with the words "Match bhi jeeto aur dil bhi jeeto". This should happen with this tour too. Welcome Pakistan, we Indians welcome you in right earnest ... Srinath

Sambit's words were profoundly heartwarming, and if the same spirit can be reciprocated in India during the Pakistan tour, it will go a long way in cementing the ties of two sister nations, that had gone astray in the sea of bitterness for more than 55 years. We can become a beacon of hope for a world that is presently in total disarray, and human values have been set aside, in favor of parochial bickering and differences. Yusuf Mohamed

I have never before felt as strong an urge to write to Cricinfo as today. The write-up about Pakistan's forthcoming India tour was both enlightening and disturbing at the same time. It forced me step back and take a broader view of things, beyond just cricket or politics. Indeed, it's articles like these that keep us readers coming back for more! Abhishek

I believe that one day our two countries will once again be whole, not in geographical terms but in spirit. This however can only be achieved through mutual understanding and this great game of cricket. I am a pro golfer, and I travel all over the world and when an Indian and Pakistani meet abroad they are like brothers - all the animosity comes not from the general public but from greedy politicians who feed the common man nothing but hatred. Daniel Chopra

The phrase has lost its meaning by now, but let's not mix politics and sports. Adnan Sami is as popular in India as he is in Pakistan, so was Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Pakistani players are playing for the newly launched PHL. Then why should cricket, the second religion to our nation, take a setback? Let's hope we can reciprocate the hospitality shown by Pakistan last year and roll out the red carpet for our guests. After all, aren't we the nation which believes "Guests are Gods"? Raj Putatunda

Being a Pakistani, I really feel proud and happy from these sort of words from an Indian. Thanks a lot and I also hope that India does the same as well when Pakistan goes there. Sohail Iqbal

India has to look beyond just cricket. They have to embrace the Pakistani fans like they would do to "long-lost brothers". They must accept defeat if Team India is beaten ... just like the Pakistanis did. Remember, there were no media reports of houses been stoned or effigies burnt after Pakistan lost the last ODI. Also, the Pakistani fans showed new found maturity after their team lost the first Test. This was because the Pakistan cricketers gave their all in defeat. Now, if Team India can perform with dignity and fight to the last ball, maybe the fans will also mature and not give in to negative emotional outbursts. The voices of Shiv Sena and other parties against Indo-Pakistan ties must be drowned out by Indian fans chanting Inzi, Inzi or Rana, etc. Indian fans must applaud good cricket by any player, not only their own ones. Mahendra Naidoo

I was very disappointed when I came to know that India were not playing a Test match in Karachi during its tour to Pakistan last year. Therefore the PCB and the Indian board must replan the schedule and give a Test to Ahmedabad, because it is now their turn. We Karachi-ites can understand the feelings of Ahmedabadis. Tariq