In May-July 1999, the Kargil War took place. At the same time, in January-February 1999, India defeated Pakistan in a Test series in Manchester, England.
On June 3, 2000, an Asia Cup match was held in Dhaka.
In 2001, five terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out an attack on India’s Parliament in New Delhi, resulting in the death of eight security personnel and one civilian.
On January 22, 2002, an attack was carried out at the American Center in Kolkata, where four police constables were martyred and 20 people were injured. The attack was carried out by Pakistan-sponsored terrorist organizations.
On March 23, 2003, 24 Kashmiri Pandits were brutally murdered by terrorists in Nadimarg, Jammu & Kashmir.
Despite the attacks on the American Center and the massacre of Kashmiri Pandits, the Indian cricket team toured Pakistan in 2004 to play a Test series — and went on to defeat Pakistan once again.
After so much loss of life, does victory on the cricket field truly mean anything?
Why is the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) seemingly indifferent regarding India-Pakistan matches?
On July 25, 2004, another India-Pakistan match was played in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In March-April 2005, the Pakistan cricket team toured India for a Test series.
On October 29, 2005, a bomb blast in Delhi killed 60 people and injured 200 others.
In January-February 2006, the Indian team once again toured Pakistan for a Test series, which Pakistan won.
In the same year, on March 7, terrorists bombed Varanasi, killing 28 people.
Later that year, India defeated Pakistan by 8 wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy on October 15.
Still in 2006, on July 11, 200 people were killed in the Mumbai train bombings.
Despite all these terror attacks, cricket between India and Pakistan continued unabated.
In 2007, there was the ICC T20 World Cup.
In 2008, the Asia Cup was held.
There was also a Test series between 2007-08.
Meanwhile, deadly bombings continued:
May 13, 2008: Jaipur bomb blasts killed 63 people and injured over 200.
July 26, 2008: Ahmedabad bombings killed 56 and injured over 200.
September 13, 2008: Delhi bomb blasts killed 30 people and injured over 100.
Between November 26–29, 2008: The horrific Mumbai attacks killed 166 people.
Even as the World Cup, Asia Cup, and Test series went on, India witnessed one deadly attack after another.
The story was similar in 2016:
February 27, 2016: Asia Cup underway.
March 19, 2016: ICC T20 World Cup ongoing.
Yet on January 2, 2016, terrorists attacked the Pathankot Airbase, killing seven security personnel.
On September 18, 2016, the Uri attack claimed the lives of 19 Indian soldiers.
Despite so many civilian and soldier deaths, cricket matches did not stop.
In June 2017, there was the ICC Champions Trophy — with the final played on June 18.
In September 2018, India again defeated Pakistan by nine wickets in the Asia Cup in Dubai.
On February 14, 2019, a suicide bombing in Pulwama carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 40 CRPF personnel.
Even after such tragedies, cricket matches between India and Pakistan continued.
Moreover, Pakistan-sponsored terrorist groups have carried out numerous attacks in 2021, 2022, and 2023 as well.
At the National War Memorial, the names of 25,000 Indian soldiers — from the army, air force, and navy — who have died in the line of duty are engraved.
However, more civilians have been killed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism than soldiers lost in wars.
So, why does cricket between India and Pakistan not stop?
When Virat Kohli steps onto the field with his bat and the stadium echoes with chants of “Kohli! Kohli!”, people tend to forget Pakistan’s deceit and terrorist acts.
This is not the fault of Virat Kohli or cricket lovers.
The blame lies with the BCCI — for repeatedly allowing India-Pakistan matches to happen.
When India condemns Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism at the United Nations or other international platforms, Pakistan counters by asking:
“If India is serious about terrorism, why does it still play cricket matches with us?”
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