A rivalry rooted in history
India and Pakistan were partitioned in 1947 through a bloody division that displaced around 14 million people, created 10 million refugees, and caused nearly a million deaths. It led to one of the largest migrations in human history. Since gaining independence, the two nations have fought four wars and continue to share a tense border, where skirmishes and shelling were frequent until a few years ago.
A unifier amidst tensions?
Ironically, while the British divided the Indian subcontinent, their sport cricket, has often served as a bridge, offering a rare moment of unity amid geopolitical tensions. Instead of guns and bullets, battles are fought with bat and ball.Whenever diplomatic ties froze, cricket has been used as a tool to mend relations. Famous comedian Hasan Minhaj once said that during the India-Pakistan match 1 billion people tune in and cricket diplomacy has been used by both India and Pakistan to ease and inflame tension.
Despite the intense rivalry, cricket has often played a key role in fostering goodwill between India and Pakistan. Following the 1999 Kargil War and the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, both of which pushed the two nations to the brink of war, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee made a significant diplomatic move. In 2004, he sent the Indian cricket team to tour Pakistan for the first time in 14 years, delivering a heartfelt message to captain Sourav Ganguly and his team: “Dil jeetke aana” (Win hearts there).
It turned out to be a historic tour, as India secured its first-ever Test and ODI series victories on Pakistani soil. Whether the tour truly won over Pakistani hearts is a matter of debate, but it undoubtedly helped ease tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours at a critical time. The tour symbolised the power of cricket diplomacy, showing that even amidst political and military hostility, the sport could serve as a bridge between the people of both nations.
Similarly, in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh invited his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the semi-final match together, marking a moment of cricket diplomacy.
However, tensions remain high. India has not toured Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and even in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, India refused to play in Pakistan, leading to a neutral venue in Dubai.
Historically, neutral venues have also played a significant role in this rivalry. From the famous Sharjah series to the Sahara Cup in Toronto (1996-1998), fans worldwide have witnessed scintillating battles between the two sides.
The business of India-Pakistan matches
Cricket is more than just a sport in the subcontinent and aptly termed as an economic juggernaut. The financial stakes in India-Pakistan matches are staggering.
According to Cricbuzz, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could have lost $65 million in hosting fees had the ICC Champions Trophy been moved elsewhere. This is the first time Pakistan is hosting a global ICC tournament since co-hosting the 1996 ODI World Cup.
Advertisers are scrambling to secure ad slots for Sunday’s high-voltage clash in Dubai, pushing 10-second ad rates to Rs 50 lakh, which is double the price of other matches, ET reported.
“The India-Pakistan match has the power to break through advertiser inertia and budget constraints,” said Sam Balsara, chairman of media and marketing firm Madison World.
During the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup in India, a 10-second ad slot reportedly cost Rs 30 lakh, reported Bloomberg.
Over the past 20 years, India-Pakistan matches have generated an estimated Rs 10,000 crore ($1.3 billion), according to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
A rivalry like no other
Ticket sales for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 India-Pakistan clash were a frenzy, with seats selling out within minutes. Over 1.5 lakh fans queued up online, only to find premium categories, such as the Dirham 2,000 Platinum and Dirham 5,000 Grand Lounge sections completely sold out.
Whether on the field, in diplomatic circles, or in the business world, the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry remains unmatched and continues to captivate the world.
