2004: With Cricket and Popularity, It Will Be Easier to Win Elections in Pakistan - Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Besides being primarily as a politician, the former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a man of all seasons. He was a poet, a journalist, an orator, politician and an ardent supporter of the gentleman’s game cricket. The political tensions between India and Pakistan have been a hot topic over the years. But late Vajpayee was known for his leadership qualities. He also believed it’s cricketers that would make it easy to win the elections and the latest example has been the World-winning skipper Imran Khan of Pakistan.

However, the story was somehow different under the reign of Vajpayee. He was an advocate of peaceful relationship with the neighbours, and he backed cricket to be used as a platform for diplomatic ties.

In 2004, the former prime minister attended the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit to boost ties with the neighbouring countries.

To support this new initiative, Government of India (GoI) allowed its team to play a full-fledged series on the soil of Pakistan. The Sourav Ganguly-led team played three Test matches and five One-day Internationals in the series. It was first such tour that took place after 19 years.

Cricket as a diplomatic tool:

His ideas of using cricket as a diplomatic tool which was cherished not only in India but Pakistan as well. Vajpayee breathed his last at AIIMS in the national capital, New Delhi on Thursday (August 16).

Professor Ratnakar, who was the manager of the Indian team then, recalls the series of events that took place in 2004.

The manager of India, in the historic tour Pakistan 2004 said that Vajpayee came with a clear message to players.

The prime minister said, “Khel hi nahi, dil bhi jeetiye – shubhkamnaye.” The former manager shed light on the diplomatic ties in the reign of the former PM.

“I had gone for the security visit earlier, and people lined up in the streets of Karachi with Vajpayee’s photographs. They were happy that the Indian Prime Minister ensured cricket ties would start again between India and Pakistan,” Ratnakar said.

Invitation from Atal Bihari Vajpayee:

The former manager said that Vajpayee used full of his humour powers when I gave details after my return.

“When I told him about that, Mr Vajpayee jokingly said, “It will be easier to win elections in Pakistan also.” (because of his popularity),” he added.

Professor Shetty said that they received an invitation from Prime Minister house to meet him before flying off to Pakistan.

“He spent almost an hour with the team. Vajpayee had a naval band playing patriotic songs in the garden for the Indian team. He had gifted us a special bat with a message inscribed on it. Khel hi nahi, dil bhi jeetiye – shubhkamnaye,” Professor Shetty recalled.

In the recently held elections cricketer, Imran Khan became overall 19th PM. He lifted the World Cup 1992 following the spectacular show.