The Message in a Refusal

Sport is called “war minus the shooting” for a reason. It has forever made room for peaceful protest and has for decades been used to highlight key issues confronting the world. The 1968 Black Salute, for example, remains one of the most significant images of the 20th century. Tommy Smith and John Carlos have become immortal because of what they did.

The Indians not giving the Nazi salute in 1936 was a much talked about phenomenon in Berlin. Black Lives Matter was integrally connected to sport and none of us can forget Michael Holding’s speech on the issue.

Against this backdrop, it was surprising to see much talk about Suryakumar Yadav’s team refusing Pakistan the handshake. The truth is that they were very much within their rights to do so. While the handshake is part of the spirit of the game, there are no rules that make it mandatory. If the Indians don’t want to shake hands of people they don’t deem worthy enough, they are right to do so. 

Here, I wish to name Faheem Ashraf in particular. He has time and again crossed the line and posted filth on social media against Indian women. And yet, PCB has never said a word on the matter. Ashraf continues to be part of the Pakistan team and is playing in the Asia Cup. 

Why does Pakistan need the handshake? What’s in a handshake, after all? Is it to show the world that everything is now normal and India has moved on? That Pahalgam is now a thing of the past?

Nothing has moved and nothing will ever be forgotten. India, to their credit, used the Asia Cup, both on and off the field, to perfection. On the field, they beat Pakistan and off the field, they resurrected the terror discourse by dedicating it to the armed forces. Boycotting the game wouldn’t have brought back world attention. By beating Pakistan and then mentioning it at the post-match presentation, Suryakumar Yadav made sure the issue of terror is yet again the topic of discussion. Sport was used for peaceful protest and that’s why the boycott idea wasn’t ever a good one.

I want to see more of this in the coming months. India is set to play Pakistan on September 21 in Dubai. Yet again, use the platform to tell the world the truth. India’s women are to play Pakistan in Colombo on October 6 for the women’s World Cup. Harmanpreet Kaur refusing the handshake will be yet another grim reminder of how and why India is playing Pakistan, and yet there is no camaraderie. For those who say the handshake is part of the spirit, protest is as much integral to the spirit. Smith and Carlos shouldn’t have done the Black Salute because it was anti-spirit. And yet, they did so and are now immortal. At times, you need to do things to draw world attention, which might seem a little out of line but that’s the only way you can make a meaningful point.

Boycott or no boycott is a personal call. If someone feels by boycotting he is standing firm with the armed forces, so be it. But it doesn’t entitle him or her to abuse the cricketers or the journalists who are here in Dubai doing their jobs. The cricketers are playing because it is their calling and we are reporting because it is what we do and it is what defines us. Reporting on games doesn’t make us any less nationalistic or any less patriotic. The end goal is the same and the sooner we understand it, the better. Sport should help us unite and not divide. India’s gesture was a welcome one and a grim reminder of how sport can always be used as soft power. 

Asia CupDubaihandshakeIndia-PakistanShivam DubeSuryakumar Yadav