Romance, reality of an Indo-Pak tie

INDIA VS PAKISTAN IS A GUARANTEED COMMERCIAL BLOCKBUSTER, A MONEYSPINNER WHOSE TICKETS SELL OUT SOON AS SALES ANNOUNCED AND TELEVISION EYEBALLS ARE GUARANTEED.

other frequently (in bilaterals and multi-nationals), familiarity dulled the knife-edge intensity and fans became more accepting of a negative outcome.

Today, victory is not celebrated as a national triumph nor is defeat equated to national shame.

Partly, this balance is created by sane voices which consciously downplay the importance of a sporting context, a sensible move in itself. One, it provides context and understanding that cricket is just sport, not life or death, war or peace. Two: it limits expectation, reduces pressure and prepares the ground in the event of a potential loss.

Despite the unemotional, professional lead-up to June 4, stating that India vs Pakistan is a game like any other is only a half-truth. It’s not the ‘do or die’ battle of yesterday, but certainly rates higher than most on the ‘watch out for’ index.

As the passion and raw emotional appeal subsides, attention now is more on the commerce around an India-Pakistan match. Come Sunday, all eyes will be on Birmingham because this is the Champions Trophy’s showpiece game. With serious money riding on the game, for the ICC/sponsors and broadcasters, it is the tournament’s commercial lifeline.

India versus Pakistan anywhere is a guaranteed commercial blockbuster, a money-spinner whose tickets sell out soon as sales announced and television eyeballs are guaranteed. This is not, as Virat would have us believe, just another cricket match. This is Baahubali and Dangal rolled into one.