‘Cultural Matter’: Cricket defines British-Indian identity

The three flags hovering above the pavilion on London’s oval cricket ground neatly symbolize the interchangeable identities of Britain’s ethnic minorities in the fourth test between England and India on Thursday.

British Union Jack flew highest in the middle, on the edge of England’s Saint George’s Cross and the Indian three-suited, as the teams continued their catchy five-match series draws 1-1.

Despite being born and raised in the UK, many cricket fans of Indian descent came to encourage Virat Kohl’s men instead of Joe Root’s English side.

“It gives us friends and family together – it’s not a tribal thing,” explained economic adviser Ronak Paw, 38.

“It’s our heritage. We don’t hate England. When England plays anyone else, we support England,” he added.

Britain has a long history of immigration from Commonwealth countries, including India, and a large number arrived after World War II to fill labor shortages and rebuild the country.

Generations of British Asians have since become part of the structure of society.

Finance Minister Rishi Sunak is of Indian descent and 2.5 per cent of people in England and Wales were identified as ethnically Indian during the last census.

The complex mix of cultural factors – especially the central place of cricket in Indian culture – means that many British people with an Indian heritage support the land of their ancestors.

“Cricket is a priority only as a culture. I only support India for cricket purposes,” retail worker Viren Patel, 55, told AFP.

“It’s a cultural thing that has nothing to do with the country. I’m divided because 90 percent of the year you support England,” he added.

In 1990, Norman Tebbit, a former UK government minister, published a controversial benchmark to assess whether ethnic minorities had integrated into British society on the basis of their cricket loyalty.

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– “Tebbit has run out of sales date” –

But the so-called “Tebbit test” shocked numerous British-born Indian fans who saw no contradiction between Britishness and support for the Indian cricket team.

“Nothing shows our commitment to Britain or England by supporting the national team,” Paw stressed.

“We pay our taxes here, we were born here, we live here – what proof do we need that we are British?”

Praveen Sangar, a 63-year-old engineer, proudly wore a dark blue Indian cricket shirt born in India that moved to Britain at the age of five.

“In football, you support England, in cricket I support my country – there is no conflict,” he said.

“The world is now multinational. Norman Tebbit has run out of sales.”

The debate divides opinions in minority communities, as some encourage their country of birth based on personal circumstances and often oppose them against friends and relatives.

Others see these running identities as a positive way to get minority communities involved in cricket, sell stadiums, and make sports easier.

“It’s a friendly competition. Cricket is competitive, but everyone gets along with everyone. You can feel comfortable supporting any team,” said Jazz Sidha, 52, a marketing employee.

“Your neighborhood has nothing to do with your nationality or heritage – you can’t dictate it,” he added.

imm / jdg / mw