ODI series: What Happens When Cricket Meets Conflict and Politics

When you think of an ODI series, a format of international cricket played in one-day matches, typically between national teams. It's the backbone of modern cricket—packed with strategy, star players, and national pride. But what happens when an ODI series isn't just about runs and wickets? What if it gets caught in the middle of something bigger—like war, tragedy, or political tension? That’s not theory. That’s what happened in 2023, when a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province killed three Afghan cricketers and five civilians, forcing the Afghanistan Cricket Board to pull out of a planned tri-nation ODI series. The ICC condemned it. The world watched. And the game stopped—not because of rain, but because of bullets.

ODI series are supposed to bring countries together. But they don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re influenced by borders, policies, and human rights. The same way a political rally in Tamil Nadu turned deadly in 2025, turning a celebration into a national mourning, a cricket match can become a symbol of something far heavier. These aren’t just games. They’re reflections of the world outside the boundary. And when violence, corruption, or mismanagement steps in, the scoreboard doesn’t matter anymore. The real score is human life.

What you’ll find in this collection isn’t a list of match results. It’s a raw, unfiltered look at how cricket intersects with real life. From stolen wedding gold in Aligarh to scams hiding behind job portals like Naukri, these stories show how deeply broken systems can bleed into even the most innocent spaces—including sports. You’ll see how a single event can unravel an entire series, how trust in institutions gets tested, and why the quiet moments between overs often hold the loudest truths. This isn’t just about cricket. It’s about what happens when the world outside the ground refuses to stay out.