Omar Abdullah Criticises Politicisation of Sports, Says Ind-Pak Matches Portrayed Like War
Stop Mixing Cricket with Politics, Omar Abdullah on Pak Pullout from T20 World Cup Clash
Jammu, Feb 3: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday strongly criticised the growing politicisation of sports, saying that India-Pakistan cricket matches are increasingly portrayed like battlefields rather than sporting contests, a trend he believes is responsible for recurring controversies and heightened tensions.
Reacting to Pakistan’s decision to withdraw from the high-profile T20 World Cup match against India, the Chief Minister described the development as a direct outcome of the unhealthy intersection between sports and politics. A known cricket enthusiast, Abdullah said that the essence of sportsmanship is lost when political narratives overshadow athletic competition.
“We have now completely stopped differentiating between sports and politics. Time and again, through the media, whenever there is a match between India and Pakistan, it is presented as a war. You never cover it like a normal match,” Abdullah told reporters in the lawns of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
He observed that encounters between India and Pakistan receive disproportionate attention compared to matches involving other countries, which, according to him, creates unnecessary hype and pressure. “When we play against other countries, it does not receive as much attention, but when it’s against Pakistan, it is blown out of proportion. That is when such situations arise. It should not happen,” he said.
Abdullah said Pakistan is participating in the T20 World Cup but has chosen not to play against India, a move he termed unfortunate for the spirit of international sport. He stressed that cricket, like all sports, should remain a platform for healthy competition and people-to-people engagement rather than a tool for political messaging.
The controversy has drawn the attention of the International Cricket Council, which has reportedly warned Pakistan of serious repercussions for selectively pulling out of the marquee clash scheduled in Colombo on February 15.
Pakistan’s decision was conveyed through an official government statement and is being viewed as a political protest following the removal of Bangladesh from the tournament after the ICC declined Islamabad’s request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds.
Abdullah said such developments ultimately harm players, fans and the larger sporting ecosystem. He called upon stakeholders, including the media and sporting bodies, to help restore the sanctity of sport by keeping it free from political overtones.
“Sports should unite people, not divide them. If we continue to treat sporting contests like political confrontations, we will only keep damaging what is meant to be a source of joy, inspiration and healthy rivalry,” the Chief Minister said.
He added that normalising sporting engagement and allowing athletes to compete without political baggage would go a long way in preserving the true spirit of international competition.
