Kolkata: So, Imran Khan won’t be in the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore to see the final of the Pakistan Super League today. The cricketer-turned-politician has already expressed his inability to be a live spectator to the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shahryar Khan, according to Dawn. The former skipper of Pakistan has not given any concrete reason behind his unavailability though he has wished the organisers all success.
Now, what could be the reason behind the chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) to stay away from a historic occasion? It is as simple as this: The politician Imran Khan holds sway over the former cricketer Imran Khan. The PSL final comes at a time when Khan has launched an all-out war against Pakistan Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif over the Panamagate. The case is sub-judice and the verdict of the Supreme Court will be declared soon. Lahore happens to be the capital of the Punjab province ruled by Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). A successful PSL final (between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi) without any terrorist attack means, Sharif’s party runs away with all the credit for ensuring a peaceful hosting of the final that might open the doors for resumption of international cricket in Pakistan. Lahore itself has been a target of terror attacks in recent times.
If the PTI chief is a live witness to the peaceful proceedings, then he would have no other option than praising the efforts of the Punjab government in helping the PCB host the match with success. Politically, Khan would be on the back foot and with the Pakistan Army launching the Radd-ul-Fasaad operation to combat terrorism, the PM aspirant is desperate to find loopholes in the functioning of the Sharif government including the Panama paper leaks.
In this context, Khan has behaved like a ‘true’ political leader overlooking his background. However, thousands of cricket fans in Pakistan would have cherished his presence in the Gaddafi Stadium. They would have loved to see their icon Imran Khan in person giving a fillip to Pakistan cricket. But, when in politics behave like a politician and the World Cup winning captain has decided not to belie the notion.
It’s sad and an ardent cricket fan, irrespective of nationality would pray that normalcy returns to Pakistan and die-hard fans once again see international matches being held on the Pakistani soil after years. Khan’s presence today (we still hope he makes it) would have been a big advertisement for cricket in Pakistan. But unfortunately, politics gets the upper hand. One prays the spectators enjoy an entertaining game of cricket without any hindrance. With or without Imran Khan, Pakistan cricket needs a revival.