8 October 2025
Logo English
বাংলা
Sports

In the desert, cricket becomes a bridge for peace

Logo
Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:26 AM
SHARE
In the desert, cricket becomes a bridge for peace
  Bangla Press Desk:  It was business as usual at a café on Tourist Club Road in Abu Dhabi. The small shop, well known in the area for its ‘Kadak Chai’ and Indian snacks, was bustling when a Pakistani national was seen attending to someone connected with the shop. The conversation between two people from countries often considered rivals was surprising: an Indian man was helping his South Asian neighbor, who was struggling to keep his business afloat in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Unlike in the past, it has become increasingly difficult for Pakistanis to obtain a UAE visa, making it harder for them to sustain their livelihoods. The political differences between the two nations seemed to have little impact on their personal relationship – and cricket, as always, appeared to be an extension of that shared culture. The India-Pakistan rivalry often takes a backseat when cricket is played in the UAE, and for a long time the world witnessed their clashes on the field – thanks to Sharjah and Abdul Rahman Bukhatir.
The UAE has always been a grand stage for such battles, whether it was Imran Khan squaring off against Sunil Gavaskar, or Shoaib Akhtar charging in at Sachin Tendulkar. The list of iconic encounters goes on and on. In recent years, Afghanistan has played its home games in the UAE, unable to host international matches on its own soil due to political instability. Added to that is the reluctance of visiting teams to play in Kabul, largely because of security concerns. Yet it hardly mattered – UAE stepped in to support Afghanistan, providing a stage that kept their cricket alive against all odds. The people of this region, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, have long been the flag-bearers of peace when it comes to cricket. The forthcoming Asia Cup reinforces that role once again. There had been considerable doubt over this edition of the tournament after India appeared adamant about pulling out due to escalating border tensions – tensions that shook not only the region but also the cricketing fraternity, with many fearing the end of high-profile clashes between India and Pakistan. In the end, it was resolved when the ACC decided to host the tournament in the UAE. Neither country was willing to compromise on its stance, but shifting the event to neutral territory provided a solution, allowing the competition to go ahead as planned.
India and Pakistan may have many issues, but when the Asia Cup is staged in the UAE, both sides seem to adopt a different mindset – one that suggests the flag of peace flies high in this desert, where people are not judged by their borders but by their love for one another. The eventual winner of the Asia Cup will surely have something to celebrate, but more importantly, cricket fans across the globe will be treated to three weeks of excitement, where the spirit of the game leaves no room for enmity.  This article was originally published on Daily Sun.
[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]
B P/SP
[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]

Comments (0)

Join the Conversation

Please log in to share your thoughts and engage with other readers.

Login Register

No comments yet

Be the first to share your thoughts on this article!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE