Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting cricket on his recent visit to the Maldives. He also wrote that Modi’s move is a good example of ‘cricket diplomacy’ during the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2019. In 2014, Tendulkar has himself promoted ‘cricket diplomacy’ during Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s Mumbai visit.
Praising the Prime Minister on Tuesday, he wrote, “Thank you for promoting cricket, @narendramodi ji. Good example of cricket diplomacy during the @cricketworldcup. Hoping to see Maldives on the 🏏 map soon.”
What is cricket diplomacy?
When two cricket paying countries uses the game to enhance or worsen the diplomatic relation it is called cricket diplomacy.
Modi’s Maldives Visit
During his first overseas visit after being re-elected, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Maldives on June 8 and gifted a cricket bat signed by the Indian team to Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Reason? To strengthen the bilateral ties between the two countries. PM Modi said that India will help the Maldives to promote cricket and develop the sport to consolidate people-to-people relations. Modi’s emphasis is on cricket diplomacy in the Maldives. In a PTI report, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said the ministry is working with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to train Maldivian cricketers. “A team from the BCCI visited the Maldives earlier in May for the training of Maldivian cricketers, organising coaching programmes and supply of kits,” quoted PTI.
