Tooting: Monty tells Nub News why he turned down professional cricket opportunity

Ex-England cricketer Monty Panesar has written an article on why he decided against playing in the KPL for our sister site Twickenham Nub News . Have a read of Monty's piece below.

Pakistan and India haven't found a solution over the land of Kashmir. Pakistan has confidence in the people of Azad Kashmir to decide the fate of their beloved state. The world is showing concern about the dispute over Kashmir. War will be no resolution to the argument. The settlement of Kashmir is all-important for lasting peace and prosperity.

Pakistan naming a tournament after disputed territory, to which India continues to stake its entitlement, has annoyed the Indian Government. BCCI (The Board of Control for Cricket in India) has effectively flexed their muscles and put pressure on ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and the SA cricket board to not allow any players to participate in the KPL (Kashmir Premier League). Adding fuel to the fire, the tournament is due to start day after the second anniversary of Article 370.

It doesn't help that the league's official # has the word "Azadi", which means freedom. This allowed BCCI and the ruling government in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party, to express their muscular nationalism. It basically means they have to be seen to be stable and self-assured, especially with matters involving Pakistan.

Cricket defines national identity for both nations. It isn't uncommon for nations to settle political wars by using sports. Since 2008 we haven't had any Pakistani cricketer feature in the IPL, and no Indian players are allowed in the PSL.

PCB added: "Such conduct from the BCCI is completely unacceptable, against the preamble of the Spirit of Cricket and sets a dangerous precedence."

It is no coincidence that Article 370 finishes on the 5th August and the league starts on the 6th. If this was their idea of probing the BJP government, the elements combine to make a perfect storm.

Let's rewind to 24th July: A warm day, and it's red ball cricket. I know today it's going to be a long day with me bowling 20 overs.

Every Saturday I look forward to playing with Twickenham CC. When I pitch the ball outside leg and beat the bat I wonder whether I can make a comeback in cricket. The opportunity was presented to me to play in KPL. This was my chance to show the world I can still play at the highest level.

When you put the ball in my hand, I am at my most relaxed. That day we beat Richmond CC at home on Twickenham Green. I look at my phone in the changing room and see I've been selected for the first edition Kashmir Premier League. I immediately tweeted out a message: "Excited to be part of KPL can't wait to start".

Spinning the ball in my hand with excitement, I started to visualise what would happen if the tournament went well. I started putting my name in the other leagues. I have a spring in my step and feel like finally the door is open to play professional cricket again.

The whole week I didn't hear anything from my agent. Something didn't feel right. I almost felt very distanced from the competition. Then the big news emerged on Thursday that BCCI had announced that any international players who play in the league will be banished from India.

If we play in the league, we won't be allowed an Indian visa and we will be banned from entering India or doing any sort of cricket-related work in India. I get a call from the PCA and ECB explaining the consequences of playing in the Kashmir Premier League. I immediately make my decision not to play in KPL. The dream is over: playing professional cricket again may happen in another league.

Kashmir has been a volatile area since partition. People in India feel it is their land, and are angered that Pakistan has created a league called "Kashmir Premier League". They don't even want the word Kashmir to be associated with it. Indian people are suggesting that the league could have been played under a different name, like "Multan/Islamabad Premier League". People in India feel Pakistanis are provoking the issues in Kashmir.

I don't want to be stuck in the middle of Pakistan and India.

The question did cross my mind: 'Why couldn't the league be played in UAE or another city in Pakistan?'. You just realise the tension between both countries.

BCCI want to stop the league altogether and have filed a letter to ICC to stop the league. Unfortunately, a league can be created within any country and ICC can't get involved as long as no international players are playing.

Occasionally I wonder how prosperous both countries could be if they came to an agreement over Kashmir. They could create their own trade deal.

For the moment, the BCCI doesn't want any international players participating.

So it's back to Twickenham Green, with Carlos our team captain: "Can I bowl from the top end please?"

Thank you to Monty for contributing this article to Twickenham Nub News. Monty is currently playing for Twickenham CC while studying an MA in International Sports Journalism at St Mary's University in Twickenham. You can often find him practising his famous spin bowling on Twickenham Green.

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