Tharoor: Cricket Should Remain Separate from Political Issues in Bangladesh

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor emphasises that cricket should remain separate from political issues, particularly regarding minority attacks in Bangladesh. He advocates for continued engagement with Bangladesh to protect minorities while supporting cricketer Mustafizur Rahman.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Congress
MP
Shashi
Tharoor
has
expressed
that
cricket
should
remain
separate
from
political
issues,
particularly
concerning
minority
attacks
in
Bangladesh.
His
comments
came
after
criticism
arose
over
the
selection
of
Bangladeshi
cricketer
Mustafizur
Rahman
by
the
Kolkata
Knight
Riders
during
the
IPL
auction.

Tharoor
emphasised
that
sports
should
not
be
burdened
with
political
matters.
“I
honestly
don’t
think
cricket
should
be
made
to
carry
the
burden
of
attacks
on
minorities
in
Bangladesh.
My
view
is
clear
that
we
should
try
to
insulate
some
areas
from
others,” he
stated.

Cricket
and
Politics:
A
Delicate
Balance

He
further
highlighted
India’s
ongoing
engagement
with
Bangladesh,
urging
it
to
protect
minorities.
Tharoor
believes
such
diplomatic
efforts
should
continue
without
involving
sports.
He
noted
that
Mustafizur
Rahman,
as
a
cricketer,
is
unrelated
to
these
political
issues.

“But
Mustafizur
Rahman
is
a
cricketer
and
has
nothing
to
do
with
any
of
these
things.
He
has
not
been
personally
accused
of
hate
speech
or
attacks,
or
of
condoning
or
defending
such
acts.
He
is
a
sportsman,
and
mixing
these
two
things
is
simply
not
fair,” Tharoor
remarked.

Tharoor
also
argued
against
isolating
neighbouring
countries
through
sporting
boycotts,
suggesting
it
would
not
yield
positive
outcomes.
He
stated,
“If
India
becomes
a
country
that
isolates
all
its
neighbours
and
says
nobody
should
play
with
them,
it
will
not
do
any
good.
We
need
a
big
heart
and
a
big
mind
in
this
matter.”

The
Role
of
Sports
in
Diplomacy

He
stressed
that
the
decision
to
select
Rahman
was
purely
based
on
sports
and
should
remain
unaffected
by
political
influences.
Tharoor
believes
that
maintaining
a
separation
between
sports
and
politics
is
crucial
for
fostering
goodwill
among
nations.

In
conclusion,
Tharoor’s
stance
highlights
the
importance
of
keeping
sports
free
from
political
entanglements.
By
doing
so,
he
suggests
that
countries
can
maintain
healthy
relations
while
addressing
political
issues
through
appropriate
diplomatic
channels.

With
inputs
from
PTI