More Than a Game Part Two

By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (July 9^th 2009) [1]

Editor’s Note

The issue of terrorism and sport’s role in combatting it remains pertinent. We have covered this and other issues for several years. The story of Sri Lanka’s and also Pakistan’s love of cricket and fight against terrorism is important and still relevant.

The Editor

After Lahore

On March 3^rd 2009 cricket was targeted directly for the first time by terrorists, determined to impose their will on Pakistan, whether it wanted it or not. The bus carrying the Sri Lankan team to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day of the Test Match was attacked by terrorists. There have been far worse attacks in terms of casualties, but this was the first time that cricket had been attacked directly. The consequences were dire as the cricket-loving Pakistani nation had no choice but to resign itself to the loss of its favourite sport for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s captain, Kumar Sangakkara clearly wants to put the horror of what happened in the past, but is resigned to facing questions about it whenever they play, especially if it is against Pakistan. “I think we’ve got to control that part [emotion] if we want to be mentally strong to do what we have to do,” he said. “The guys have moved on very well from where we were just after Lahore and I think we’re going to make sure that whatever has come our way, we’re going to control them and use them as a positive to try and win.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Younis Khan wants to see cricket return to his country and soon, but recognises the enormity of what happened.

“It was very wrong [Lahore],” he said. “It was the first time, especially in Asia, these kind of things happen in sport, so I think it’s really hurting for us at the moment and we are very sad – both of the teams are sad. All our nation is very sad about that. When this thing happened, every call said: ‘please protect them, please take care them.’ I think there are still a lot of memories from that incident.”

A Debt of Honour

Sri Lankans know better than most how important cricket is to the Indian sub-continent and how to deliver cricket in the midst of war. They have been doing it for many years their civil war lasted from 1983-2009.

Pakistani cricket never had such friends as the Sri Lankans. When India refused to tour Pakistan earlier this year in the aftermath of the Mumbai attack, Sri Lanka accepted Pakistani assurances over security and agreed to tour.

It almost proved fatal for them, but Sri Lanka’s decision was based on a friendship that grew from finding Pakistan among their truest friends in their hour of need. Prior to the recent Twenty20 World Cup final, both countries had won one World Cup [50 overs version] each – Pakistan in 1992 and Sri Lanka in 1996. Sri Lanka triumphed the first time the tournament was held in the Indian sub-continent.

It could have been so different. The tournament was shared between India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but just a month before it was due to begin, the worst atrocity of the war occurred. The Central Bank Bombing in Colombo was committed by the Tigers on January 31^st 1996. Almost a hundred people were killed and nearly 1400 injured. The founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers) Velupillai Prabhakaran[2] was sentenced to up to 200 years imprisonment in absentia. Others were captured and given long jail terms, but it had the effect that they wanted.

Tourists were warned to stay away from the country. The timing was no coincidence; it was designed to affect the island’s economy and prestige as the World Cup approached. Sri Lanka’s cricketers and Board understand what is required to play cricket in a war-zone. For twenty-six years they and their predecessors lived with constant security surrounding their every move.

Cricket continued in the war-torn island and the players believed that they were performing a vitally needed social function. Where there was discord, they wanted to bring harmony and they remembered the friendship they received from both Pakistan and India when they needed it most.

The 1996 World Cup began just a month after the Central Bank Bombing. The ICC passed Sri Lanka safe to play, thanks in part to India and Pakistan’s insistence that the island must be allowed to co-host the tournament as well.

Rajiv Gandhi’s attempt to impose peace through the Indian Peace-Keeping Force failed and was a cause of great resentment in Sri Lanka from both Sinhalese and Tamils. On May 21^st 1991 suicide bomber, Thenmozhi Rajaratnam, detonated her bomb that killed 16 including Gandhi. She was closely linked to the Tamil Tigers.

Already losing popularity in India, the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was the final straw for many Indians; Prabhakaran and the Tigers became anathema and India sided with the Sri Lankan government, labelling the Tigers a terrorist organisation. Support of Sri Lankan cricket and their right to co-host the World Cup became one of the few things that united the governments of India and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka went on to win the tournament and they never forgot the friendship they received, especially from Pakistan, whose friendship was not soured by India’s efforts to exert influence over the region by trying to impose a peace settlement. The Sri Lankans have never failed to return the favour to Pakistan. Now that both Sri Lanka and Pakistan can enjoy a safe tour, cricket has a chance to cement that friendship and help to heal the wounds of both nations.

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[1] This article was first published in the Magazine in 2009. We publish it again as the issues that it raises remain pertinent.

[2] Prabhakaran was wanted by Indian authorities over the 1990 assassination of then Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi – it lapsed in 2010 due Prabhakaran’s death in action on May 18^th 2009 in Sri Lanka.