Calling all INDIANS and PAKISTANIS to come TOGETHER

The Indo-Pak story is a long one and probably requires a book or ten to cover what went wrong between the brothers separated at birth.

I'm not going to talk about all the ills here, and am going to keep it as short as I can.

Despite the turbulent history of the two neighbours, there has always been one ray of shining hope that has without fail brought India and Pakistan together. That ray has been Cricket!

Yes sir, our cricket, the sport we love, has for a long time been a binding force for the two nations. While Governments have warred; the cricket boards, players, and fans have continued to enjoy a healthy relationship.

Till now that is.

Today we stand at a point where not only our Governments are clashing, but our cricket boards are as well. In the history of the Indo Pak relations, this is probably a first.

This is in stark contrast to 2004 when buses came to Lahore from Delhi with Indians in the thousands. The cricket was awesome, and it was enjoyed by both the Pakistanis and the Indians. It was what happened off the field that melted the heart. It’s not easy to distinguish between Lahoris and Delhi-ites, but on the streets of Lahore one could easily tell them apart - the Indians walked around in "Team India" t-shirts and many carried the Tiranga held proudly over their heads.

And they roamed the city as if it was theirs.

The Liberty Market, where the unfortunate attack on the Sri Lankans took place, looked like any other market in downtown Delhi. The entire area had a buzz about it, and it wasn't only the Indians there. The Pakistanis were around to guide them, the shop keepers welcomed them with big smiles, the restaurants provided them the service that even we don't get back home, the rickshaw drivers gave them free rides across town, and the Pakistanis took them under their wing and gave them free guided tours of Lahore.

It was one hell of a time watching the Indians and Pakistanis live together again, even if it was brief.

Sadly, one can't even imagine the thought of anything like that happening today - not in Pakistan, not in India.

But there's one place where we will witness this Indo-Pak chemistry once again - London!

Come Wednesday and Pakistan and India will take on each other in a warm up match for the ICC World Twenty20. It won't be any warm up game; it will be a fund-raiser with the proceeds going to the victims of the unfortunate attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

So here it is again. The Indo-Pak cricket teams coming together once again for a good cause.

It’s not only the Indo-Pak cricketers who will be coming TOGETHER to play, entertain, and raise funds;

The Indo-Pak fans will also come TOGETHER and fill the galleries at the Kennington Oval;

The Indo-Pak commentators will also sit TOGETHER in one room and have senseless discussions;

Hell even us Indo-Pak bloggers will come TOGETHER in the same chat-room and cover the match LIVE for you;

Then why is it that Governments of the two countries, and now the cricket boards as well, fail to come together and see eye-to-eye?

I don't want an answer to that question. I don't even want any of you thinking about that question.

Let’s forget about all that.

Let’s just think about the cricket, think about India playing Pakistan, think about the ICC World Twenty20, and come TOGETHER on Bored Quickie! Indo-Pak Live.

Wednesday 10:00 PM IST! (16:30 GMT)

by Q + NC

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