Now the time has come to start the matches between India and Pakistan, in front of which series like Ashes have also failed in rivalry. Pakistan’s economy is at its lowest and India’s at its highest in its 75-year history. Pakistan is in such a situation where it is not able to take loan even from IMF. He is not getting help even from the Middle East. Meanwhile, China, Pakistan’s biggest benefactor, is also facing a crippling economy and most projections are that it will fail to cross the 4% average this decade. At the same time, America’s economy is in good condition. India can register a GDP growth of around 7 percent in this decade.
India and Pakistan are twins separated at birth. Arguably the twins should never have been separated. Now we cannot change history but we can help in improving the future for all. The British had followed their strategy of divide and rule. The law-makers of India and Pakistan should understand that by not allowing the separated twins to live a life of brotherhood, they are playing into the hands of China, which wants to be a weak empire.
India as a big brother should move towards normalizing the situation. Cricket can be the first and necessary step for the improvement of both the countries. Normal cricketing ties would also help Pakistan weed out China as well as domestic terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba. When they start taking action against their own terrorists, the doors of IMF will also open. This will give Pakistan a chance to move towards a better position. China will be isolated. At the same time, India’s confidence as a major power in the world economy will be established.
I saw the first Test match in 1960 between India and Pakistan at the Brabourne Stadium. I was 12 years old and my love for the game was already there by the age of seven. India’s opening fast bowler was Ramakant Desai. Somebody had stolen my ticket on the fourth day. One of the most exciting matches between India and Pakistan was played in Bangalore in 1987. When Sunil Gavaskar scored 96 on a bad pitch but India lost by 16 runs. Ever since I have seen cricket, according to my own thinking India is always number 1 and Pakistan is always number two.
I would like to end this request with a line from the famous Mathematician GH Hardy – If I knew I was going to die today, I would still want to hear the cricket score, especially the India-Pakistan Test match.
(The author is a former executive director of the IMF and a former member of the Economic Advisory Council to PM Modi. Views are personal)