The Pakistan Super League (PSL) resumed after a week-long suspension, precipitated by the recent clash of arms between India and Pakistan. On Saturday afternoon, the league’s first match after the break was played at Rawalpindi. Although cricket officially resumed, politics soon hijacked the event.

Pakistan’s senior-most military leaders, including Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, were present as special guests. Their attendance redirected the focus from sports to state-sponsored communication.

Army Generals Steal the Limelight

General Asim Munir‘s visit immediately made headlines. Earlier, he courted controversy when he gave his ‘Two-Nation Theory’ speech in which he targeted Hindus openly and referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.” He also spoke about turmoil in Balochistan. Only five days ago, terrorists had killed 26 individuals—largely tourists—in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. That attack ignited the latest military conflict between the two nuclear powers. Asim Munir’s visit to the stadium so close to the violence was unmistakable in its political significance.

Accompanying him to the VIP box was Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General ISPR. He often serves as the public face of the Pakistan Army and Air Force. More significantly, he is the son of Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood—a retired nuclear scientist with Osama bin Laden connections. The United Nations has declared Mahmood a terrorist.

By attending the stadium, these military commanders didn’t simply observe cricket—they conveyed a deliberate message. They blurred the traditional line between state and sports. Their attendance reiterated the army’s hegemonical role in defining Pakistan’s national image.

Ceasefire Clears Way for Cricket

After the Pahalgam massacre, military tensions mounted very quickly. Indian forces bombed terror camps all over Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Pakistan hit back by firing shells into civilian zones in Jammu and Kashmir, including Poonch. India retaliated by striking multiple Pakistani airbases. One of them, Bholari Air Base, is only 100 kilometers away from Karachi.

After three days of retaliatory strikes, the two nations finally agreed on a truce. The shaky peace enabled cricket leagues in both countries to resume. As such, the PSL and IPL resumed on the same date.

At Rawalindi, Karachi Kings beat Peshawar Zalmi by 23 runs in a uninterrupted match. In the meanwhile, the match in IPL between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders was also washed out, eliminating KKR from playoff spots.

Cricket Becomes a Political Stage

Rather than being a short respite from war, the PSL game became a sign of military propaganda. A night that was supposed to be about sportsmanship became an orchestrated show of strength. The attending generals reminded everyone that Pakistan’s army still holds national attention—no matter how innocent an event.

This intimate blend of sports and politics is cause for serious cultural inquiry. Can cricket really remain apolitical in times of national distress? In Pakistan, too often the answer appears to be no. Cricket often reflects the state of politics within the nation—sometimes peaceful, other times belligerent.

By politicizing the restart of the PSL, the Pakistan Army shifted the boundaries between entertainment and ideology. It employed cricket as a means to maximize nationalist discourses. In the process, it perpetuated a common fact in South Asia: sport never remains untainted by politics.