While the 17th edition of the Asian Cup takes place in the United Arab Emirates, a lot of attention was devoted to intense boycott calls before the India-Pakistan match. The history of the tournament and the role of India inside cannot be minimal either. Despite the most successful side of the event, there was an opportunity where India has not participated or better boycotted. It was in 1986, where the competition took place in Sri Lanka. The Asian Cup was inaugurated in 1984 in Sharjah, where Sunil Gavaskar led India to victory in the three -team competition, beating Pakistan to win the title. India was to defend its crown two years later in Sri Lanka, but this tournament remains the only edition they missed.
The reason for their absence was political rather than sporting. At the time, Sri Lanka was under the influence of civilian disorders, and the Indian government ordered the BCCI not to send the national team. The withdrawal of India opened the door to Bangladesh, which was added to the competition, although it did not play an ODI previously.However, it should also be noted that cricket relations between India and the host nation had embittered after a controversial series in Sri Lanka the previous year. That too, played a role in the decision.Unlike this incident, the Government of India has enabled India to participate in international tournaments involving Pakistan, the BCCI aligning this position. Consequently, the reason for the team’s participation in this edition. The entry of Bangladesh presented defeats in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in what was still a historic moment for the emerging cricket nation. Sri Lanka won the title, their first triumph of the Asian Cup, starting a tradition of presentation in each edition of the tournament since. India, on the other hand, returned to the Asian Cup in 1988 when it was organized by Bangladesh, raising the trophy again by beating Sri Lanka in the final. They also organized the tournament for the first time in 1990, where Pakistan chose to go out.
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What is the importance of the political situation in determining participation in international sports?
Although the Asian Cup has often been a centerpiece for cricket rivalries, it was also strongly influenced by the political situation in the region. The boycott of India in 1986 remains a reminder of the way in which events outside the field have shaped the history of competition.
