The final Test at Bangalore was Inzamam-ulHaq’s 100th Test match. The Karnataka State Cricket Association presented him with a gorgeous 47-piece handcrafted, customised cutglass dinner set. With the bat, Inzamam made it an unforgettable outing as he hit a century that helped his team win the match and draw the three-Test series 1-1.Players share bonds that extend beyond cricket. Zaheer Abbas, called ‘the Asian Bradman’ for his batting exploits, has close bonds with India. He is married to Samina (nee Rita Luthra) from Kanpur and they regularly visit India, without any fanfare. The two, by the way, have been happily married for more than 30 years.Before Zaheer Abbas was ‘bowled’ by Rita Luthra, an interior designer, former Pakistan cricket captain Mohsin Khan had acted in Bollywood films, fell in love with actress Reena Roy and married her. A few years later, another Pakistani sportsperson, Faisal Qureshi, a former Pakistan No.1 golfer in the early 1990s, married India No.1 Nonita Lall. And, in 2010, Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza married former Pakistani cricket captain Shoaib Malik. More recently, Pakistani pacer Hasan Ali, now playing in the T20 World Cup, tied the knot with Samia Arzoo from Haryana.Indian and Pakistani sportspersons have also partnered each other and competed in international tournaments. Indian tennis stalwarts Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna have famously partnered Pakistan’s Aisam Qureshi in doubles. Ace Indian golfer Shiv Kapur, who follows cricket closely, partnered Pakistan’s Shahid Javed Khan for the 2003 Bonallack Trophy, an amateur team competition played between Asia/Pacific and Europe.Sportspersons of low-profile disciplines visit each other’s country without attracting much attention. Athletes, golfers, wrestlers, shooters etc. compete and return to their home country without getting much of a mention in the media – and certainly no opposition. This March, for example, Pakistani horse riders competed in the World Cup tent pegging qualifiers in Greater Noida and returned without a fuss.The 2004 tour of Pakistan was made even more memorable because of the chance to visit the ancestral homes of Bollywood legends Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan in Peshawar, all three within walking distance of each other. It was at Shah Rukh Khan’s home that I had my first ever taste of Qahwa, a delicious tea, offered by his cousin.Pakistan last visited India in 2012-13, for a short, limited overs series. India has not played in Pakistan after 2006. While the bilateral series has been stalled, India and Pakistan have been playing against each other in International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments; because not playing would not just mean a loss of points for forfeiting the game but also invite other sanctions.Cricket and fans are the losers.
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