As I watched India beat the crap out of Pakistan last night, I wondered whether the magic was all but gone.
Gone were the days when one would leave all other work and turn on the television to watch the two Asian giants slug it out. Today's games are based more on friendship and improving relationships.
Somehow, it seems that the thrill has all but disappeared from the rivalry.
Shahid Afridi had once remarked that the 'jaadoo' had all but disappeared from the encounter. Wasim Akram seemed to support his claims as well.
The truth is that the meeting of the two teams dosen't draw as much interest as it used to earlier. The rivalries between the players has been overshadowed by their friendship.
In the recently concluded Kitply Cup, India faced Pakistan in a group encounter. The Pakistanis were dismal on the field. So much so that one wondered whether they even cared to stop the flow of runs. Clearly, the players have had enough.
Afridi's comment seems to have been backed by that performance of Pakistan.
In the nineties, the two countries were at loggerheads. The 1999 Kargil War was the height of tension between the two countries. Whenever India faced Pakistan, the supporters of the two teams would anxiously wait for the tie. Railway station televisions would draw large crowds and there would a lot of pushing and shoving for space.
Today, the same televisions are completely neglected when an India-Pakistan match is on air. The public have gotten bored.
Since the 2004 tour of Pakistan, Indians have played the Pakistanis more often in one year than they played them in the last decade. This was done so that the relations between the two nations improve.
The objective was achieved. Now, I feel the BCCI and the PCB must realise that this fixture must be played less often. Or else the rivalry will have no spice left and will also have no spectators.
Today's generation of cricket lovers from India prefers watching the India- Australia games more than the games with their neighbours.
It looks like this rivalry is headed for the history books, unless the BCCI can do something about it.
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