I. The Olympic Bid Under Scrutiny
India is positioning itself as a frontrunner to host the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad, but the bid is already under heavy scrutiny:
- Governance issues and widespread doping violations undermine credibility.
- India’s historically weak Olympic performances raise questions about its sporting infrastructure.
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has warned it would be “unthinkable” to award the Games to a country where geopolitical tensions could trigger boycotts.
- Qatar is emerging as a serious rival, while India faces diplomatic hurdles with Bangladesh and Pakistan.
II. ICC’s Double Standards and Pakistan’s Irritation
The hypocrisy is clear when comparing ICC’s treatment of India and Pakistan:
- The India‑Pakistan fixture is the most lucrative and most‑watched game of any ICC tournament. To capitalise, ICC has ensured the two teams are always in the same group since 2012.
- Yet worsening diplomatic relations mean no bilateral fixture has been played in 14 years.
- The 2026 T20 World Cup now looks set to be the first ICC men’s event since 2010 without an India‑Pakistan group‑stage clash.
- When Bangladesh refused to play in India citing security concerns, ICC removed them from the tournament. Pakistan supported Bangladesh’s request for an alternate venue and reacted strongly to ICC’s double standards favouring India.
- PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi rightly stated that Pakistan’s government would decide participation, exposing ICC’s bias and monopoly mindset.
III. Monopoly vs Competition
- Monopoly leads to weakness. India monopolises cricket’s broadcast economy and narrative.
- Pakistan once competed with Singapore‑based Star Network, but today Star is owned by India. Pakistan has not built a competing broadcast or media house of equal scale.
- Without competition, India dominates the narrative, leaving Pakistan defensive.
- The lesson: Pakistan must invest in sports media, branding, and competitive platforms to break India’s monopoly.
IV. Meritocracy and Succession Planning
- Australia built a seamless succession model: Steve Waugh → Ricky Ponting → Michael Clarke → Steve Smith → Pat Cummins. Each leader replaced the previous without drama, maintaining dominance.
- Pakistan suffers from succession gaps and indecision. Leadership changes often come late or politically influenced.
- If Babar Azam knows his backup is ready, he will stay on top of his matrix. That competitive environment is meritocracy. Without it, we create “nepokids” and inconsistency.
- Meritocracy ensures respect at home, which blocks ridicule abroad.
V. Reflection / Lesson
- India thrives on propaganda and monopoly. Pakistan must thrive on performance, meritocracy, and competition.
- ICC’s double standards irritate Pakistan, but the real answer is not reaction—it is building our own narrative and economy.
- Self‑respect is not maintained by compromise—it is maintained by branding, meritocracy, competition, and principled documentation.
🧭 Final Word: India’s Olympic bid exposes its governance flaws and geopolitical risks. ICC’s double standards expose its bias. Pakistan’s irritation is justified, but the solution lies in rebuilding our sports economy, competitive media, and meritocracy so that propaganda collapses under the weight of our own integrity.
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