There is a tragic absurdity to modern cross-border sportsmanship, perfectly encapsulated when the Indian women’s cricket team recently followed their male counterparts’ script by refusing to accept their Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council President and PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi. What was once heralded as the "gentlemen’s game" has been systematically reduced to a petty extension of state propaganda.

But this never-ending cycle of empty podiums, skipped handshakes and political post-match speeches has nothing to do with strength. It's a reflection of a fundamental, deep-seated institutional insecurity. When the men’s team pulled a similar stunt last year, it followed close on the heels of mounting political posturing. This mindset was laid bare when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly tweeted, "Operation Sindoor on the games field," after a T20 match. If a bat and ball are considered to be a weapon, then one can see a disturbing........

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