The terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan can lead to a cascade of unwelcome consequences for cricket-crazy south Asia and for Indian corporates with millions of dollars riding on the various cricket matches and players.
True, the attack wasn't on Indian cricketers but it almost certainly ends the prospect of Pakistan being a serious player in the world cricket map. And what is cricket if you take away the traditionally famous rivalry between the Indian and Pakistan cricket teams?
I am sure this will prevent a lot of world teams from touring Pakistan. While Pakistani cricketers can still tour the world and play, it takes away a lot from their skills and exposure, not to mention the cricketing money.
And with Pakistani cricket team losing its teeth, cricket in India will become more and more tepid. The sport will continue to be lapped up by a billion-odd people starved of sports glory, but I fear it will see a definite cooling off of interest.
The terrorists, whether they calculated it to be so or not, might have hit where it could hurt Pakistan most. This one was better than bumping off the Pakistani premier.
Pakistan is a failed state whatever its government says. And few will worry about it going to the dogs except for the threat of its nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of terrorists. But a lot many people will feel sad about its fading cricket glory, especially since it is going to be caused by terrorists, once home-grown and let out into the world.
