When Sharif took cricket diplomacy to Commonwealth

LONDON: Cricket diplomacy took a backseat 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 in 1991.

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

Newly-released papers 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, cricketers and others. 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 prime ministers of Pakistan (Sharif), Britain (Major), Australia (Bob Hawke) and Jamaica (Michael Manley). India was represented by former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, but there is no record of his wielding the bat or the ball.