ITV

Tag: Atif Aslam

  • ICC unveils Atif Aslam’s anthem for Men’s Champions Trophy 2025

    ICC unveils Atif Aslam’s anthem for Men’s Champions Trophy 2025

    MUMBAI : The International Cricket Council (ICC) has dropped the official anthem for the 2025 Men’s Champions Trophy Jeeto Baazi Khel Ke with Atif Aslam lending his powerful vocals to the track. A fusion of cricketing passion and Pakistani culture, the song sets the tone for the high-stakes tournament kicking off in less than two weeks.

    With just 12 days remaining until the highly anticipated tournament, the song’s release adds to the growing excitement ahead of the 15-match event, set to take place from 19 February to 9 March across Pakistan and the UAE.

    Produced by Abdullah Siddiqui, with lyrics by Adnan Dhool and Asfandyar Asad, the track is a vibrant celebration of Pakistan’s rich culture, showcasing its streets, markets, and stadiums. The accompanying music video highlights the nation’s deep-rooted passion for cricket. The song is now available on major streaming platforms worldwide.

    Fans can still secure tickets for the tournament online or through select physical outlets in Pakistan. Tickets for the Final, scheduled for Sunday, 9 March, will be available following the first semi-final in Dubai.

    The competition will feature the world’s top eight teams battling in 15 high-intensity matches over 19 days, with every encounter crucial in the quest for the coveted white jackets.

    Expressing his excitement, Aslam said: “I have always been passionate about cricket and once aspired to be a fast bowler. Understanding the emotions of the game, especially during an India-Pakistan clash, makes this opportunity particularly special for me.”

    ICC chief commercial officer Anurag Dahiya added: “With just days to go, the official song embodies the spirit of the Champions Trophy and Pakistan’s cricketing identity. We encourage fans to secure their tickets and be part of this celebration.”

    Tournament director and PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmad Syed hailed the song’s release as another milestone in the build-up to the global event. “Aslam, a powerhouse of Pakistani music, has delivered blockbuster anthems before, and we believe this song will set the stage alight. As excitement builds, we anticipate packed stadiums and an electric atmosphere.”

  • “Let India open its market, we will open ours” – PEMRA chairman Absar Alam

    “Let India open its market, we will open ours” – PEMRA chairman Absar Alam

    Pakistan’s TV watchdog – the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) – charimanAbsarAlam was in the line of Pakistan’s Geo News anchor Shahzaib Khanzada’s fire last week. In his Monday to Thrusday current affairs talk show Aaj ShahzaibKhanzada Kay Sath – the anchor grilled him time and time again on PEMRA’s one-sided decision to ban Indian content.

    Alam, a former journalist, answered as best as he could, but not to Shahzaib’s satisfaction.The interview on Geo News was hard hitting and no-holds barred. Shahzaibwas clear that while he was in favour of blocking Indian content which could cause unrest in Pakistan, PEMRA’s decision to take away choice from the Pakistan consumer was unwelcome.

    We, at indiantelevision.com, believe that the interview could help throw some light on what transpired from Pakistan’s viewpoint that forced the watchdog to pull the plug. Read on for the excerpts from the interview:

    Why have you taken a decision to blanket ban Indian content?

    Pakistan industry was being hit courtesy the Indian TV shows, films and music. But the reason is not only because all Indian dramas are popular; there are others too. Probably one or two are popular. The problem is low quality Indian dramas are made in India and are made available to Pakistani channels at low prices who then air them in prime time. The lay Pakistan viewer then watches them as he has to watch something or the other when he sits in front of the TV, especially during prime time. The thing is if cheap Indian dramas are airing during prime time, expensive Pakistani dramas and series will not  get space.

    Indian dramas want to enter Pakistan, they will have to open on a reciprocal basis to Pakistani dramas. I don’t think Indian dramas are so popular that Pakistan viewers will come down to breaking windows. I am not talking about films I am talking about TV dramas.

    How are you going to stop Indian DTH?

    These days illegal Indian DTH is not flocking in to Pakistan.  If it is anywhere, please let me know, I will crack down on it. Indian DTH is running in rich households in Pakistan. Cantonments, DH (defence housing).

    Islamabad’s E7, Karachi has Clifton, Lahore’s Gulburg are the places where Indian DTH has popped up. We will go there also. We have written to the defence ministry to stop Indian DTH in their cantonment and DH houses.  The second line we are taking is on their subscription payment methods. We will start working on their money trail of the monthly renewal from next week. I hope to block this totally so that Pakistan can have its own DTH too.

    Will you raid people’s homes, which have DTH dishes?

    Why would we want to do that? We will not be raiding houses, we don’t want to intrude on people’s privacy. In most societies, there are laws that prevent you from hanging your clothes on the railing, then how are they allowing illegal Indian DTH services to run? The housing societies will have to cooperate. And people will themselves cooperate with us and remove the dishes that are already installed.  

    In the past, Pakistan banned Indian films. That did not help, it encouraged the parallel economy or piracy, which did not allow tax to come Pakistan’s way. Yet it also enriched the pockets of a few. Won’t this current ban result in the same what with the internetand DTH proliferating now?

    We have studied and tracked that at least 36 arab rupees are going India’s way courtesy its DTH services. When we tackle this through the banking sector, you will see results. People will not swing towards Indian DTH.

    In India, Zee Zindagi dropped Pakistani shows without any government interference. Almost 73 per cent of Pakistan’s revenue is coming courtesy Indian films. Ever since Indian films were shown, Pakistan films also got an audience. It is the choice of Pakistani viewers to watch what they want to watch. Aren’t you doing away with that freedom by regulating what comes on the screen. Why is the government intervening?

    We have our own drama industry. It is our duty to protect their rights. We have our artistes. In India, there are some forces which are not allowing a film starring Pakistani artistes not to be released. In Pakistan, there are media houses insisting which want Indian dramas to be shown. Is it not ironical?

    Be that as it may. India’s foreign minister has said he has not banned any film. There are right wing fundamentalists who are taking that stance. The Indian government is not imposing anything. Why are you?

    The government there is resorting to double speak. It is saying we are not compelling anyone. But tell me: is everything happening there without the government’s consent? You have an entertainment channel, try playing your entertainment dramas there now? Try getting an entertainment licence for GEO Entertainment from India.  Can you get it? I will give Zee a licence for the landing rights. I am giving you that assurance (if a Pakistani channel gets one)

    Once again, I am reiterating, it is about restricting choice. And it’s about the government being unable to reverse a legislation in future about banning Indian content.

    Who told you it is going to be difficult to reverse any decisions. You have a misunderstanding that PEMRA takes its decision under someone’s pressure. It takes its own decisions.

    Remember YouTube. You could not open it up after you restricted it.

    YouTube has opened up.

    For two and a half years it was shut.  Yes, but you were constrained from making any announcements. And are you reacting now to India’s position on Pakistan?

    Comparing YouTube and this is not proper. The reason why we banned Youtube was a sensitive issue. It did not shut down because of Indian content. It is open now. Should not there be parity between India and Pakistan? Should there not be reciprocity? Let India open its market, we will open ours.

    No1. Anything that is happening in Pakistan which is illegal under PEMRA’s framework, we will act on it – whether it is Pakistan’s news channels. Or entertainment channels. Or FM Radio channels. Or cable operators. Or excessive Indian contentWhoever is violating laws, we will go after them from time to time with increasing frequency.

    And it was part of our campaign, our schedule to do away with Indian DTH. Which we have now done.

    The third reason is that our local drama industry is getting destroyed. We have to protect their rights. Like Indian cars that cannot be sold in Pakistan though they are cheaper to make there. Or you allow free trade with India on all goods. Why should only drama come, why not others? Why should not our goods go there? This one way traffic cannot go on. We are not being reactive.

    On the music front, will you allow Hindi songs sung by Pakistani singers in Indian films to be played on Pakistan FM radio?

    The songs sung by Pakistani singers are our songs sung by our artistes. They are ok if they have sung the songs here. And on radio you will not come to know what is the background of the songs, whether it is a film or not. Even on TV if Rahat Fateh Ali Khan or Atif Aslam have made videos of the film songs they have sung, they can play those.

    It was six per cent earlier of Indian content on FM radio. One hour 15 minutes Indian content. You mean to say that Pakistan’s stations can’t fill that up with Pakistan songs?

    But you could have been firm on the six per cent rule. You could have enforced it. Why did you go for a ban?

    We did. We did. We are under tremendous public pressure and we have done it in the public interest. People did not want Indian music to come on Pakistan radio. I don’t want to provoke people, there was a lot of anti-India sentiment. People were asking why are Pakistani songs playing on Indian radio?

    You are becoming a victim of populist speak.  Indian right-wingers are doing the same. If someone does not like content on a Pakistan a channel, he can change it? Why do away with choice of Pakistani people?

    I agree if someone does not like Pakistani content, he can switch it off.

    So if someone does not want to watch Indian content, can’t he switch it off?

    This will not happen. It is damaging our economy – our dramas are suffering. There was so much of Indian content being shown there was very little space for Pakistani shows.

  • “Let India open its market, we will open ours” – PEMRA chairman Absar Alam

    “Let India open its market, we will open ours” – PEMRA chairman Absar Alam

    Pakistan’s TV watchdog – the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) – charimanAbsarAlam was in the line of Pakistan’s Geo News anchor Shahzaib Khanzada’s fire last week. In his Monday to Thrusday current affairs talk show Aaj ShahzaibKhanzada Kay Sath – the anchor grilled him time and time again on PEMRA’s one-sided decision to ban Indian content.

    Alam, a former journalist, answered as best as he could, but not to Shahzaib’s satisfaction.The interview on Geo News was hard hitting and no-holds barred. Shahzaibwas clear that while he was in favour of blocking Indian content which could cause unrest in Pakistan, PEMRA’s decision to take away choice from the Pakistan consumer was unwelcome.

    We, at indiantelevision.com, believe that the interview could help throw some light on what transpired from Pakistan’s viewpoint that forced the watchdog to pull the plug. Read on for the excerpts from the interview:

    Why have you taken a decision to blanket ban Indian content?

    Pakistan industry was being hit courtesy the Indian TV shows, films and music. But the reason is not only because all Indian dramas are popular; there are others too. Probably one or two are popular. The problem is low quality Indian dramas are made in India and are made available to Pakistani channels at low prices who then air them in prime time. The lay Pakistan viewer then watches them as he has to watch something or the other when he sits in front of the TV, especially during prime time. The thing is if cheap Indian dramas are airing during prime time, expensive Pakistani dramas and series will not  get space.

    Indian dramas want to enter Pakistan, they will have to open on a reciprocal basis to Pakistani dramas. I don’t think Indian dramas are so popular that Pakistan viewers will come down to breaking windows. I am not talking about films I am talking about TV dramas.

    How are you going to stop Indian DTH?

    These days illegal Indian DTH is not flocking in to Pakistan.  If it is anywhere, please let me know, I will crack down on it. Indian DTH is running in rich households in Pakistan. Cantonments, DH (defence housing).

    Islamabad’s E7, Karachi has Clifton, Lahore’s Gulburg are the places where Indian DTH has popped up. We will go there also. We have written to the defence ministry to stop Indian DTH in their cantonment and DH houses.  The second line we are taking is on their subscription payment methods. We will start working on their money trail of the monthly renewal from next week. I hope to block this totally so that Pakistan can have its own DTH too.

    Will you raid people’s homes, which have DTH dishes?

    Why would we want to do that? We will not be raiding houses, we don’t want to intrude on people’s privacy. In most societies, there are laws that prevent you from hanging your clothes on the railing, then how are they allowing illegal Indian DTH services to run? The housing societies will have to cooperate. And people will themselves cooperate with us and remove the dishes that are already installed.  

    In the past, Pakistan banned Indian films. That did not help, it encouraged the parallel economy or piracy, which did not allow tax to come Pakistan’s way. Yet it also enriched the pockets of a few. Won’t this current ban result in the same what with the internetand DTH proliferating now?

    We have studied and tracked that at least 36 arab rupees are going India’s way courtesy its DTH services. When we tackle this through the banking sector, you will see results. People will not swing towards Indian DTH.

    In India, Zee Zindagi dropped Pakistani shows without any government interference. Almost 73 per cent of Pakistan’s revenue is coming courtesy Indian films. Ever since Indian films were shown, Pakistan films also got an audience. It is the choice of Pakistani viewers to watch what they want to watch. Aren’t you doing away with that freedom by regulating what comes on the screen. Why is the government intervening?

    We have our own drama industry. It is our duty to protect their rights. We have our artistes. In India, there are some forces which are not allowing a film starring Pakistani artistes not to be released. In Pakistan, there are media houses insisting which want Indian dramas to be shown. Is it not ironical?

    Be that as it may. India’s foreign minister has said he has not banned any film. There are right wing fundamentalists who are taking that stance. The Indian government is not imposing anything. Why are you?

    The government there is resorting to double speak. It is saying we are not compelling anyone. But tell me: is everything happening there without the government’s consent? You have an entertainment channel, try playing your entertainment dramas there now? Try getting an entertainment licence for GEO Entertainment from India.  Can you get it? I will give Zee a licence for the landing rights. I am giving you that assurance (if a Pakistani channel gets one)

    Once again, I am reiterating, it is about restricting choice. And it’s about the government being unable to reverse a legislation in future about banning Indian content.

    Who told you it is going to be difficult to reverse any decisions. You have a misunderstanding that PEMRA takes its decision under someone’s pressure. It takes its own decisions.

    Remember YouTube. You could not open it up after you restricted it.

    YouTube has opened up.

    For two and a half years it was shut.  Yes, but you were constrained from making any announcements. And are you reacting now to India’s position on Pakistan?

    Comparing YouTube and this is not proper. The reason why we banned Youtube was a sensitive issue. It did not shut down because of Indian content. It is open now. Should not there be parity between India and Pakistan? Should there not be reciprocity? Let India open its market, we will open ours.

    No1. Anything that is happening in Pakistan which is illegal under PEMRA’s framework, we will act on it – whether it is Pakistan’s news channels. Or entertainment channels. Or FM Radio channels. Or cable operators. Or excessive Indian contentWhoever is violating laws, we will go after them from time to time with increasing frequency.

    And it was part of our campaign, our schedule to do away with Indian DTH. Which we have now done.

    The third reason is that our local drama industry is getting destroyed. We have to protect their rights. Like Indian cars that cannot be sold in Pakistan though they are cheaper to make there. Or you allow free trade with India on all goods. Why should only drama come, why not others? Why should not our goods go there? This one way traffic cannot go on. We are not being reactive.

    On the music front, will you allow Hindi songs sung by Pakistani singers in Indian films to be played on Pakistan FM radio?

    The songs sung by Pakistani singers are our songs sung by our artistes. They are ok if they have sung the songs here. And on radio you will not come to know what is the background of the songs, whether it is a film or not. Even on TV if Rahat Fateh Ali Khan or Atif Aslam have made videos of the film songs they have sung, they can play those.

    It was six per cent earlier of Indian content on FM radio. One hour 15 minutes Indian content. You mean to say that Pakistan’s stations can’t fill that up with Pakistan songs?

    But you could have been firm on the six per cent rule. You could have enforced it. Why did you go for a ban?

    We did. We did. We are under tremendous public pressure and we have done it in the public interest. People did not want Indian music to come on Pakistan radio. I don’t want to provoke people, there was a lot of anti-India sentiment. People were asking why are Pakistani songs playing on Indian radio?

    You are becoming a victim of populist speak.  Indian right-wingers are doing the same. If someone does not like content on a Pakistan a channel, he can change it? Why do away with choice of Pakistani people?

    I agree if someone does not like Pakistani content, he can switch it off.

    So if someone does not want to watch Indian content, can’t he switch it off?

    This will not happen. It is damaging our economy – our dramas are suffering. There was so much of Indian content being shown there was very little space for Pakistani shows.

  • Pak bans Indian TV content, films from being screened

    Pak bans Indian TV content, films from being screened

    NEW DELHI: Even as Pakistani theatres decided not to show Indian films in the wake of the current tensions between the two countries, that country’s media regulator has asked all channels in the country to “immediately” stop broadcast of illegal Indian content amid theongoing tension between the two nations.

    Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in a statement said it has been receiving complaints that several local private channels were showing Indian talk shows, reality programmes and dramas without permission.

    “The complaints have shown serious concerns on this issue (illegal Indian content) in the wake of current situation between India and Pakistan. Complainants have urged PEMRA to impose immediate ban on broadcast and distribution of illegal Indian channels and illegal Indian DTH,” PEMRA said in a statement.

    PEMRA said that it had already taken steps to stop illegal broadcast of Indian channels and warned that all distribution networks and TV channels should follow the laws and “immediately” stop the broadcasting of Indian contents.

    “This will send a positive signal to the public about the satellite TV channels and distribution networks’ commitment with rule of law and the country – about which a huge number of talk shows preach daily,” it said.

    According to PEMRA rules, local channels can only show five per cent foreign content but it has been seen that several channels mostly rely on foreign contents, mostly Indian, Turkish, American and European.

    Interestingly, the only Indian general entertainment channel which was showing Pakistani content, Zee’s Zindagi, has also decided to stop such broadcasts from 2 October.

    Last week, Raj Thackeray-led MNS issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes and actors, including Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar, to leave India by 25 September or else they would be “pushed out”. Concerts of Pakistani singers Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam scheduled in Bengaluru and Gurgaon, respectively, were also cancelled.

    And though actor Salman Khan backed Pakistan artistes following the ban on them by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association, Pakistani cinemas have stopped screening Indian films in “solidarity” with the country’s armed forces.

    “We have stopped screening Indian movies at our cinemas from Friday till the situation improves and normalcy returns,” said Nadeem Mandviwalla, whose Mandviwalla Entertainment runs eight cinemas in Karachi and the capital, Islamabad, according to a report in a New York-based Indian newspaper. Indian films had been popular both at the cinema and on pirated DVDs in Pakistan.

    Pakistan’s domestic film industry has seen a revival in recent years, but is dwarfed by India’s Bollywood. Pakistani actors have increasingly been appearing in big budget Bollywood films in the last few years.

    Super Cinemas General Manager Khurram Gultasab confirmed his group would also not be screening Indian films. He said the move had been made by cinema owners themselves, rather than on government directions. The group runs ten cinemas in cities across Pakistan’s Punjab province.

    Other Pakistani cinemas posted on social media saying they would not be showing Indian films after Thursday’s violence.

  • Pak bans Indian TV content, films from being screened

    Pak bans Indian TV content, films from being screened

    NEW DELHI: Even as Pakistani theatres decided not to show Indian films in the wake of the current tensions between the two countries, that country’s media regulator has asked all channels in the country to “immediately” stop broadcast of illegal Indian content amid theongoing tension between the two nations.

    Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in a statement said it has been receiving complaints that several local private channels were showing Indian talk shows, reality programmes and dramas without permission.

    “The complaints have shown serious concerns on this issue (illegal Indian content) in the wake of current situation between India and Pakistan. Complainants have urged PEMRA to impose immediate ban on broadcast and distribution of illegal Indian channels and illegal Indian DTH,” PEMRA said in a statement.

    PEMRA said that it had already taken steps to stop illegal broadcast of Indian channels and warned that all distribution networks and TV channels should follow the laws and “immediately” stop the broadcasting of Indian contents.

    “This will send a positive signal to the public about the satellite TV channels and distribution networks’ commitment with rule of law and the country – about which a huge number of talk shows preach daily,” it said.

    According to PEMRA rules, local channels can only show five per cent foreign content but it has been seen that several channels mostly rely on foreign contents, mostly Indian, Turkish, American and European.

    Interestingly, the only Indian general entertainment channel which was showing Pakistani content, Zee’s Zindagi, has also decided to stop such broadcasts from 2 October.

    Last week, Raj Thackeray-led MNS issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes and actors, including Fawad Khan and Ali Zafar, to leave India by 25 September or else they would be “pushed out”. Concerts of Pakistani singers Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam scheduled in Bengaluru and Gurgaon, respectively, were also cancelled.

    And though actor Salman Khan backed Pakistan artistes following the ban on them by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association, Pakistani cinemas have stopped screening Indian films in “solidarity” with the country’s armed forces.

    “We have stopped screening Indian movies at our cinemas from Friday till the situation improves and normalcy returns,” said Nadeem Mandviwalla, whose Mandviwalla Entertainment runs eight cinemas in Karachi and the capital, Islamabad, according to a report in a New York-based Indian newspaper. Indian films had been popular both at the cinema and on pirated DVDs in Pakistan.

    Pakistan’s domestic film industry has seen a revival in recent years, but is dwarfed by India’s Bollywood. Pakistani actors have increasingly been appearing in big budget Bollywood films in the last few years.

    Super Cinemas General Manager Khurram Gultasab confirmed his group would also not be screening Indian films. He said the move had been made by cinema owners themselves, rather than on government directions. The group runs ten cinemas in cities across Pakistan’s Punjab province.

    Other Pakistani cinemas posted on social media saying they would not be showing Indian films after Thursday’s violence.

  • India – Pak rivalry: Why is cricket the only scapegoat?

    India – Pak rivalry: Why is cricket the only scapegoat?

    MUMBAI: Since Independence, which then also led to Partition, the relationship between India and Pakistan has been all but cordial. Even as pigeons were flown from either side to send across a message of peace and harmony, it could not prevent bullets and bloodshed.

     

    If there’s been one unallied casualty as a result of the unrest at the Line of Control and differences between the two countries, it is cricket.

     

    In the recent past, while commenting on the Indo-Pak bilateral series former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly and Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur said that terrorism and cricket cannot go together. Strong message indeed! Yes, it’s true that Pakistan is infiltrating every now and then as a result of which soldiers and innocent civilians are losing their lives and hence a blockage of dialogue is indeed pragmatic.

     

    What’s more, blocking cricket between the two countries as a part of process is also justified. However, the all important question here is: Why the partial blocking?

     

    Consider this: Mibah-Ul-Haq is not allowed to bat in India but Ramiz Raza and Shoaib Akhtar are allowed to commentate on a India – South Africa match. Not only that, while Wasim Akram is allowed to coach the Indian Premier League (IPL) team, Pakistani players’ participation is strictly prohibitive in the same. Aleem Dar – the umpire from Pakistan – has access to cricket fields in India whereas Mohammad Hafeez is not allowed.

     

    Why is the diplomatic barrel limited to the 11 players in the lush green cricket field? Why are we restricting ourselves to cricket, which is a form of entertainment in India? Shouldn’t the blockage be unanimous?

     

    Music is also a form of entertainment and singers’ voices from the other side of the border reverberate all across the nation as they croon in Bollywood movies, launch their albums and hold many public and private concerts. This year Atif Aslam has already had three concerts in India. The Pakistani artist and his team charge between Rs 60 – 70 lakh for a live concert. Indians buy tickets and enjoy the concert, whereas the organisers reap in the benefit and generate huge revenue through ticketing and sponsorship. Rates of a Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan live concert are also in the similar range.

     

    Money making from India and Indian market is not only limited to music. Actors and actresses often feature in Bollywood movies. Recently Pakistani actor Fawad Khan paired up with Sonam Kapoor for Khoobsurat and soon Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan will be seen romancing the famous Pakistani TV actress Mahira Khan on the big screen.

     

    Speaking of Fawad and Mahira Khan, Zee TV has a dedicated entertainment channel – Zindagi, which has content sourced from Pakistan.

     

    The India vs Pakistan bouts in cricket are considered to be one the biggest derbies in the world of sports. Ecstasy, agony, congratulations and commiserations during any such bout are unlike any other match. What’s more, television ratings also prove the same. The ratings of an India vs Pakistan match almost doubles the ratings of any other match in a bilateral series.

     

    Absence of Indo-Pak cricket series is a major loss for broadcasters too. While the ad rates for a normal match generally fluctuate between Rs 1.5 – 3 lakh for a 10 second slot, the rival series can command as high much as Rs 4 lakh.

     

    As is said – ‘Art, Music, Sports has no religion, caste, community, geography or demographical barriers.’ However, with the way things are progressing, we might find sports out of it very soon. Pakistani players were restricted to participate in Mumbai and Pune during the second edition of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League. On the other hand, India’s national sports Hockey is also mulling following the no Pakistan rule. In December 2014 India last hosted Pakistan for a bilateral series, and whether India will host or travel to Pakistan anytime soon is something that the Sports Authority of India has yet to decide.   

     

    India is scheduled to play a bilateral series against Pakistan in December. But now that seems to be nothing but impossible. In a press conference, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shariyar Khan said, “The series with India does not look possible now and it is a big loss for cricket but we will try, although I do not think it will lead to anything. We have always said that politics and sports should be kept apart. But apparently India does not think this way.”

     

    Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Anurag Thakur’s tweet almost spelled the rule out for the series. His tweet read, “There will be no revival of cricketing relations between the two countries if Pakistan harbours Dawood Ibrahim and makes attempts to indulge in dialogue with separatist leaders.”

     

    Whether the ‘no sports with Pakistan’ route is right or not, is the prerogative of lawmakers to adjudicate but this partial prohibition certainly is a subject of a larger debate. So the question remains, why ban only cricket and let rest of the entertainment go on?