OFFICIALS of teams representing Pakistan and India in the AFL International Cup hope a match between the two will help an ongoing push to ease historic tensions.
The Pakistan Shaheens and the India Bombers will meet on Friday night in Bendigo, north-west of Melbourne, with the Dosti Cup up for grabs. Dosti is the Urdu and Hindi word for friendship.
According to Kashif Bouns, founder of the North Melbourne-based Shaheens Sporting and Social Club, the teams wanted to do away with negative connotations and celebrate their cultural similarities.
"The Dosti Cup is about changing the narrative between our countries. There's a lot of tension between India and Pakistan, and despite cultural similarities, they're very different politically," said Bouns, general manager of the Western Bulldogs' community foundation.
"AFL is a new sport for both countries, and so we wanted to do away with the tension of the past and use this as a fresh start with a positive narrative.
"It's about leaving the competition between teams on the field, and using it as an opportunity to celebrate our cultures and build bridges between our communities," he said.
The teams first played for the Dosti Cup in 2014 when Pakistan made its AFL International Cup debut. Although Pakistan dominated, Bouns said the 2014 game marked a successful beginning to a new era for the countries and their sporting histories.
"We wanted the game to promote friendship and we think we did that. They celebrated, laughed and danced together," he said.
"The game brought together the two communities and proved that off the sporting field, we are the same people."
AFL INTERNATIONAL CUP COMMUNITY ROUND
Friday, August 11
7pm: South Africa v Fiji
St Mary's, Anthony Costa Oval, Kilgour Street, South Geelong
7.30pm: India v Pakistan
Golden Square, Wade Street, Bendigo
Saturday, August 12
10am: France v Nauru
Victoria Park, 636 High Street, Kew
12pm: USA v Papua New Guinea
Montrose Recreation Reserve, Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Montrose
12pm: Indonesia v China
Diggers Rest Recreation Reserve, Plumpton Road, Diggers Rest
12pm: Sri Lanka v Croatia
Marriott Waters Reserve, Boland Drive, Lyndhurst
12.30pm: Canada v New Zealand
Waverley Blues FC, Charles Street, Mount Waverley
12.30pm: Great Britain v Ireland
Koornang Park, Cnr Koornang Rd and Munro Ave, Carnegie
2pm: Japan v Germany
Elgar Park, 653-661 Elgar Road, Mont Albert North
Sunday, August 13 (women's competition)
12pm: Canada v Great Britain
Plenty War Memorial Park, Diamond Creek
12pm: Fiji v Pakistan
Mulgrave Reserve, 140 Garnett Road, Wheelers Hill
12pm: USA v European Crusaders
University Oval, Melbourne University, Parkville
2pm: Ireland v Papua New Guinea
Hallam Reserve, Frawley Road, Hallam
