The Sub-Continent Cup.

I have long since argued that the quality of sports in India is lacking in a lot of respects and that most sports apart from cricket get no media attention. But the good news is we are not alone. We have two neighbouring countires, whose only claim to fame is also, say it with me CRICKET.

Rivalries are to sports what illegitimate children and affairs to soap operas. They may not be the driving force, but they provide the spice. So in that spirit I would like to propose A Sub-continent Cup. An Assortment of Games held in one of the three or (four if you count Bangladesh) countries in the sub-continent. A mini-SAF games without the other countries.

The reason I advocate for just the three(or four) countries is because unlike China or Korea or even Japan the only sport we thrive at it circket. We already have the dynamics of cricket rivalries to build on. India and Pakistan the two great nations, Sri Lanka a tiny Island that can hold its own and Bangladesh the underdog, not to be written off.

It would be great to see these nations dole it out on the field, playing for honour, and Peace and most of all bragging rights. Now i know some of you will think that the media will just wave this off and it will get attention for about 2 seconds and then die, so here is the piece du resistance. Include cricket also. No b grade under 19 team but the actual Indian Cricket team.

The BCCI is always boasting that they do so much to improve other sports in India. It will give them a chance to put their money where their mouth is. The Charm of course will be that the sportsman are all from each country. A football match will have 11 indians pitted against 11 pakistanis and no imports from brazil with tongue twisters for names.

And last but not least, there should be a grand prize. The over all winner gets to host the following Sub-continent cup. Hopefully sport tourism will also take off as fans will travel to the host country to support their favourite team.

Two of the four countries mentioned above are plagued with civil unrest and war. This idea may not be possible now as none of us want to see more sportsmen get shot at. But one day, in the not so far future I hope that sub continent cup will not just be a dream and will be the biggest sporting extravaganza our country has ever known, and that is a dream my friends, worth not waking up for.