Abdullah Mustafvi
Prejudice destroys the noble tendencies of justice, truth and human equality. World has experienced worst forms of prejudices based on racial, linguistic, territorial and religious hatred. Depriving a community from fundamental rights due to specific color, race or religion has never been an acceptable phenomenon. In near history, South Africa presents a relevant example where Nelson Mandella appeared as a symbol of resistance against racial discrimination. World unanimously condemned South African government’s prejudice against black community. Sports grounds also felt the jolt as there had been a complete boycott of South African teams in International events. Cricket lovers know that after divorcing racial discriminatory policies, South African team appeared at international screen in 1992 World cup and spread a magic with their outstanding performance. Prejudiced mindset of South African rulers poisoned the sports field and many great South African players like Barry Richards could not display their skills. Though, a lot has improved but one factor is still turning worst with the passage of time. Effects of prejudiced political mindset on sports have taken different forms. In the past, South African racial discrimination earned an international boycott including the sports. Now, things are negatively forming up in South Asia where anti Pakistan mindset of India and Bangladesh often surfaces in sports ground. Recent showdown resulted shifting of Pak-India T-20 World Cup match from Dharamsala to Kolkata. Chief Minister Himachal Pardesh out rightly and bluntly denied security arrangements for Pak team. Subsequently, public protests were organized against tour of Pak team in Dharamsala. Surprisingly, Pak demand for guaranteed security was responded with a threat of legal action. Why not a legal action and financial penalty against India which failed to implement the schedule of an international event? Anti Pakistan prejudice is gradually spreading roots in sports as evidently understandable with few meaningful developments. Recently, India denied to play an already settled cricket series with Pakistan and RSS driven violent response coupled with negative statements of responsible politicians kept on surfacing at international media. Approximately, 6 years back, top Pakistani cricketers were meaningfully ruled out in IPL auction. Bangladeshi PM Haseena Wajid displayed worst prejudice by leaving the stadium without awarding trophy to Pakistani team which defeated Bangladesh the final of 2012 Asia cup in last over. Last year, winning Pakistani Kabbadi team was pushed to a defeat through naked manipulation in final by the Indian referees. Anti Pakistan prejudice is running deep in the roots of Indian and Bangladeshi politicians. Appreciably, Pakistan has always adopted a broad minded positive response to highly negative provoking Indo-Bangla attitude. Prejudiced political mindset must be reset positively by India and Bangladesh. In Pakistan, we also have no dearth of anti Indian hawks who will be justified in demanding an international boycott of Indian sports for HR violations in IHK, worst violence on minorities, beef lynching and recent prejudice driven failure in implementing international schedule of cricket T-20 world cup. Likewise, Bangladesh might be charged for hanging old aged politicians not to serve justice but to satisfy anti Pakistan prejudice. we hear too much about separating politics from arts and sports but what actually is happening is not politics but a focused anti Pakistan prejudiced mind set.
