Editing Cricket Diplomacy

‘Cricket diplomacy’ refers to international cricket matches which have eased tensions in political relations and has been significant in India-Pakistan relations. In 1987 Pakistan’s president, Zia ul-Haq, attended a test match between the two nations in India and the visit is credited with cooling a flare-up in tensions. In 2004 India toured Pakistan after a 15 year break, and negotiations to allow thousands of Indian fans to follow their team resulted in both countries relaxed their tough visa regulations for each other’s citizens. In 2005 Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf, travelled to India for a cricket match which created the opportunity for political meetings over the disputed territory of Kashmir.  When both teams qualified for the semifinal of the 2011 cricket world cup the Pakistani prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani , accepted an invitation from his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, to watch the match together. Cricket matches between the two countries have at times fallen victim to their tense relations. More notably the shared love of the game has repeatedly created opportunities for increased social relations and political diplomacy between the nations.

‘Cricket diplomacy’ refers to international cricket matches which have eased tensions in political relations and has been significant in India-Pakistan relations. In 1987 Pakistan’s president, Zia ul-Haq, attended a test match between the two nations in India and the visit is credited with cooling a flare-up in tensions. In 2004 India toured Pakistan after a 15 year break, and negotiations to allow thousands of Indian fans to follow their team resulted in both countries relaxed their tough visa regulations for each other’s citizens. In 2005 Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf, travelled to India for a cricket match which created the opportunity for political meetings over the disputed territory of Kashmir.  When both teams qualified for the semifinal of the 2011 cricket world cup the Pakistani prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani , accepted an invitation from his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, to watch the match together. Cricket matches between the two countries have at times fallen victim to their tense relations. More notably the shared love of the game has repeatedly created opportunities for increased social relations and political diplomacy between the nations.

[https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/14589/Battingforpeace.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y Batting for Peace]

[https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/14589/Battingforpeace.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y Batting for Peace]