（下边有中文翻译请继续看到底。 谢谢。）
In a disappointing move, India has announced its refusal to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025. 令人失望的是，印度宣布拒绝派其板球队前往巴基斯坦参加定于2025年2月19日至3月9日举行的国际板球锦标赛冠军奖杯。
In a disappointing move, India has announced its refusal to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025. This decision is yet another instance where the spirit of sports is overshadowed by political maneuvering, and it serves as a reminder of the potential loss that occurs when politics trumps the universal values of peace, harmony, and friendship that sports promote.
Pakistan has been a staunch advocate for keeping politics separate from sports. In response to India’s decision, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch urged India to refrain from politicizing sports. “India should not politicize sports,” she remarked, emphasizing that the playing field should remain neutral—a ground for competition, camaraderie, and connection, not division and discord. She noted that no backdoor diplomatic channels were operating on this issue, underscoring Pakistan’s transparency and commitment to keeping sports free from external agendas.
Historically, sports have been one of the few domains where nations at odds have found common ground. Whether it’s a cricket match, an Olympic event, or a World Cup, the shared enthusiasm for athletic achievement has time and again shown us that nations can set aside their differences, if only for a few hours, to come together in the spirit of fair play and respect. Pakistan understands this, and its cricket board has worked hard to ensure that major international tournaments can be held safely within its borders, offering secure venues and the full support of local authorities.
India’s refusal to send its team to Pakistan undercuts these efforts. It’s worth remembering that India has, on previous occasions, politicized sports, sometimes opting to boycott or withdraw from events—a stance that many in India later regretted. This pattern of conflating sports with politics casts a negative light on India, giving the impression of a country that is unable, or unwilling, to see beyond its political disagreements. This pattern not only harms the prospects of regional sportsmanship but also undermines India’s own players, who miss out on valuable international experience and opportunities to foster goodwill with their neighbors.
India’s reluctance to engage in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy highlights a persistent refusal to embrace dialogue, trust-building, and cross-border friendship. Pakistan has consistently advocated for peaceful cooperation, as evident in its continued openness to hosting the tournament, regardless of historical political tensions. Such events should serve as platforms for interaction and mutual respect, creating an atmosphere where people from all walks of life can share in the excitement of competition. Pakistan’s stance makes it clear that it values these ideals, showing a maturity in international relations that aims to transcend longstanding grievances.
India’s stance, on the other hand, suggests an unwillingness to rise above conflict. This decision projects an image of a country that clings to confrontation rather than cooperation. Refusing to participate in the Champions Trophy based on political concerns signals that India may be unwilling to recognize sports as an apolitical arena for friendship. This approach not only sets a poor precedent but also risks isolating India within the international sports community.
The sports arena is unique in its ability to bring people together in ways that politics often cannot. For example, cricket diplomacy has previously helped ease tensions between India and Pakistan, providing moments of shared excitement and pride. Cricket fans from both countries cherish these matches, eagerly awaiting opportunities to support their teams and celebrate the game’s unifying power. India’s current refusal denies fans and players alike the chance to witness this shared experience and misses an opportunity to let diplomacy take a backseat to the joys of the sport.
Pakistan’s narrative is clear: it is a country willing to offer safe grounds for fair play, promoting peace and harmony through sports. By prioritizing inclusivity and a neutral approach to sports, Pakistan continues to extend a hand of friendship. Unfortunately, India’s decision sends the opposite message—a signal of division rather than connection. In choosing not to participate, India risks reinforcing an image of hostility and reluctance to embrace peace in the region.
Pakistan urges India to reconsider this decision, to view sports not as a platform for political posturing, but as a medium for bridge-building. This Champions Trophy is an opportunity for both countries to demonstrate their commitment to sportsmanship, come together for the love of cricket, and show the world peace is always possible on the playing field. It’s time for India to leave behind the politics of division and join the global community in celebrating sports as a universal language of unity, friendship, and peace.
令人失望的是，印度宣布拒绝派其板球队前往巴基斯坦参加定于2025年2月19日至3月9日举行的国际板球锦标赛冠军奖杯。这一决定是体育精神被政治操纵所掩盖的又一个例子，它提醒人们，当政治压倒体育所倡导的和平、和谐和友谊的普遍价值观时，可能会发生的损失。
巴基斯坦一直坚定地主张将政治与体育分开。作为对印度决定的回应，印度外交部发言人穆塔兹·扎赫拉·俾路支敦促印度不要将体育政治化。“印度不应该把体育政治化，”她说，并强调赛场应该保持中立——一个竞争、友爱和联系的场地，而不是分裂和不和的地方。她指出，在这个问题上没有后门外交渠道，强调了巴基斯坦保持体育不受外部议程影响的透明度和承诺。
从历史上看，体育一直是存在分歧的国家找到共同点的少数领域之一。无论是板球比赛、奥运会还是世界杯，对体育成就的共同热情一次又一次地向我们表明，各国可以抛开分歧，哪怕只是几个小时，本着公平竞争和尊重的精神走到一起。巴基斯坦明白这一点，它的板球委员会一直在努力确保大型国际比赛能够在其境内安全举行，提供安全的场地和地方当局的全力支持。
印度拒绝派其小组前往巴基斯坦，削弱了这些努力。值得记住的是，在以前的场合，印度曾将体育政治化，有时选择抵制或退出赛事——许多印度人后来后悔了这一立场。这种将体育与政治混为一谈的模式给印度带来了负面影响，给人的印象是这个国家无法或不愿超越政治分歧。这种模式不仅损害了地区体育精神的前景，也损害了印度自己的球员，他们错过了宝贵的国际经验和与邻国建立友好关系的机会。
印度不愿参与巴基斯坦的冠军杯，突显出印度一直拒绝接受对话、建立信任和跨境友谊。巴基斯坦一贯主张和平合作，这一点从它不顾历史上的政治紧张局势，继续对主办世界杯持开放态度就可见一斑。这些活动应该成为互动和相互尊重的平台，创造一种氛围，让各行各业的人都能分享竞争的兴奋。巴基斯坦的立场清楚地表明，它重视这些理想，显示出国际关系的成熟，旨在超越长期的不满。
另一方面，印度的立场表明它不愿意超越冲突。这一决定显示出一个坚持对抗而不是合作的国家形象。基于政治考虑而拒绝参加冠军杯，表明印度可能不愿意承认体育是一个非政治的友谊舞台。这种做法不仅开创了一个糟糕的先例，而且有可能在国际体育界孤立印度。
体育竞技的独特之处在于，它能以政治通常无法做到的方式将人们聚集在一起。例如，板球外交曾帮助缓解了印度和巴基斯坦之间的紧张关系，提供了共同兴奋和自豪的时刻。两国的板球迷都很珍惜这些比赛，渴望有机会支持自己的球队，庆祝这项运动的团结力量。印度目前的拒绝剥夺了球迷和球员见证这一共同经历的机会，也失去了让外交让位于体育乐趣的机会。
巴基斯坦的说法很明确：它是一个愿意为公平竞争提供安全基础、通过体育促进和平与和谐的国家。通过优先考虑包容性和对体育的中立态度，巴基斯坦继续伸出友谊之手。不幸的是，印度的决定传达了相反的信息——一个分裂而非联系的信号。印度选择不参加，有可能强化其在该地区的敌意和不愿接受和平的形象。
巴基斯坦敦促印度重新考虑这一决定，不要将体育视为政治姿态的平台，而是作为建立桥梁的媒介。这次冠军奖杯是两国展示他们对体育精神的承诺的机会，是为了对板球的热爱而走到一起的机会，也是向世界展示在运动场上永远有可能实现和平的机会。印度是时候抛弃分裂的政治，加入全球社会，庆祝体育作为团结、友谊与和平的通用语言。
( 注意： 本文是用AI翻译的，或有误差。请以原版英文为准。谢谢。)
Reference Link:- https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2024/11/15/india-must-embrace-sports-as-a-bridge-not-a-battlefield/