When Sharif took cricket diplomacy to CHOGM

LONDON: Cricket diplomacy took a back seat after former Pakistan president Zia-ul-haq launched it in the tense backdrop of India’s Operation Brasstacks in February 1987, but as prime minister in 1991, Nawaz Sharif evidently made a success of it in Harare.

Zia had surprised the Indian establishment by travelling to Jaipur to watch an India-pakistan Test, days after India held one of its largest military exercises. Tensions eased after he met late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi during that visit.

Newly released classified papers in the UK reveal that Sharif, who began his first prime ministerial innings in November 1990, suggested that a “Crickathon” be held during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Harare, featuring leaders and cricketers.

It was enthusiastically agreed to by Britain’s then cricket-loving prime minister, John Major, who believed that “after the English language and the common law, cricket is the third unifying thread of the Commonwealth”, the papers released by the National Archives show.

The match was held on October 18 and featured the prime ministers of Pakistan (Sharif), Britain (Major), Australia (Bob Hawke) and Jamaica (Michael Manley). India was represented by former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao, but there is no record of his wielding the bat or the ball.

Over 71,000 Zimbabwe dollars were raised for charity during the match, which also featured cricket legend Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Graeme Hick (England) and David Houghton (Zimbabwe). Sharif, who briefly played first class cricket, reportedly practised in the nets in Islamabad before the match. The groundwork for the match was done by the cricket-loving British diplomat in Harare, Mark Williams.