1. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

*             Correspondence: shivachitwan75@gmail.com

Keywords: nationalism, jingoism, media framing, ACC Asia Cup 2023, cricket, South Asia

1. INTRODUCTION

Sports journalism is a type of journalism that focuses on sporting issues and activities. In simple language, sports journalism is the process of gathering, editing, and publishing information on sporting events [1]. In sports journalism, the reporter, presenter, or journalist narrates the stories of victories, upsets, and the spirit of the competition in an appealing way. This is the type of journalism, where reporters write down the world of athletes – their achievements, careers, injuries, controversies, and so on. Sports journalism encompasses a stronghold of careless reporting, easy living, and “soft” news. Therefore, it is often referred to as the “toy department” or “sandbox of the newsroom.” That is why, [2] presumes that sports journalism is still self-contradictory.  Even though the field of sports journalism has grown significantly, it is still frequently regarded as existing outside of the professional journalism norms and as a type of entertainment journalism that is exempt from the same professional standards as journalism covering politics or the economy [3]. Sports journalists provide insightful commentary, analyze strategies, and uncover the human stories behind the headlines, captivating fans and shaping public perception of the sporting world. Presenting the facts is essentially the main goal of sports journalism, not learning about the atmosphere of games or sports. The numbers around a sporting event are the first thing that a sports enthusiast looks at. The cleverness of sports writing rests on the clear and concise way in which data and facts are presented, allowing even those with little background knowledge of the sports to understand the content with no further work. Sports journalism can bring strong feelings, images, or memories to the mind which could give readers a sense of “having been there,” just like, for example, war or travel reporting [4]. Sports writers may effectively capture the mood, excitement, and human drama of sporting events by using vivid narrations and emotive storytelling strategies. This method allows readers to vividly imagine the sights, sounds, and emotions of the event, promoting greater engagement and connection with the narrative offered in media coverage. Sports journalism extends back to 850 B.C.E., when the great Greek Homer recounted the first known wrestling match, in which Achilles raised the hands of Ajax and Odysseus in triumph. The sports of wrestling, throwing, boxing, and racing were all written in early Greece [5]. Newspapers have an important role in establishing the position of sports in journalism. However, there is a difference of opinion among the scholars as to which magazine published the sports news first. The history of modern sports journalism began in the early 1800s. However, the first mentions of sports news in publications were found in the seventeenth century. A court journal named The Loyal Protestant described reports of Charles II and his court observing a wrestling match in 1681 and a cockfight in 1683. People were discouraged from participating in sports as Puritan religious values considered sports a “morally destructive distraction” from matters of “hard work and religious devotion.” Despite such values, the Boston Gazette published a news about a boxing match in 1733. It is regarded as one of the first mentions of a sporting event in a colonial newspaper. Soon afterwards, publication specialized to sports news began to appear all over England and the USA. The Boston Gazette narrated a local boxing match between two athletes: John Faulcomer and Bob Russel in 1733. John Wheble published The Sporting Magazine in England in 1793, the first acknowledged sports periodical. The Morning Herald began its sports section in 1818, and the Globe followed a year later. Even the conservative London Times had a sports page by 1829. England’s Morning Herald, founded in 1817, was the first newspaper to feature a sports section. In the USA, The American Farmer (1819), also started covering sports news. Bell’s Life (1824) also gave coverage to sports news in England. It was published on Sundays. The conservative London newspaper, The Times, also debuted its sports department in 1829. Pierce Egan, a prominent and well-known sports journalist of the era, became popular among sports fans with his multi-volume book “Boxiana,” an authoritative guide to boxing published in the 1810s and 1820s. Egan, who produced a “Life in London” periodical, eventually gave in to the demands of sports fans and renamed his journal “Pierce Egan’s Life in London and Sporting Guide” in 1824. The “American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine” (1829) is regarded as the first American sporting magazine. It mainly published news on horse racing and horse breeding. Other periodicals like National Police Gazette (1845) and New York Clipper (1853) were also sports-based magazines. In 1831, William T. Porter started “Spirit of the Times” which covered news on cricket, foot racing, yachting, and, later baseball. During the “Penny Press” era (1830s), sports journalism gained immense popularity among the readers. In 1854, Eugene Chapuis began the publication of France’s first sports magazine, “Le Sport.” The New York Herald was the first newspaper to feature constant sports coverage. In 1883, the New York World became the first newspaper to establish a dedicated sports newsroom. Since New York World and New York Journal were in fierce competition for the circulation of newspapers, they both made extensive use of space in newspapers to cover sensational sports news stories [6]. Thus, scholars also believe that the New York Journal was the first newspaper to publish sports news on a separate page. In the 1920s, sports news accounted for 40% of local news in the New York World and 60% of local news in the New York Tribune.  In 1864, English cricketer Joh Wisden founded The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack after his name. The cricket specialized magazine was often known as the “Bible of cricket.” Its yearly publication has continued uninterrupted till today, making it the longest-running sports annual in history (Wisden, n.d.). In 1921, the first sporting event, a boxing contest, was aired live on Pittsburgh’s radio station KDKA. That same year, another two radio stations in New York City carried a live heavyweight championship boxing battle between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier. Most houses lacked radios, therefore about 300,000 boxing fans paid to listen to the match on radios in theaters, barns, and hotel ballrooms. The BBC was the first broadcaster to show live games on TV [7]. The inaugural telecast, on June 28, 1938, was the Lord’s Test between England and Australia. It was such a success that three additional tests were scheduled for broadcast in 1939. The first television broadcast of a sporting event in the United States occurred on May 17, 1939, when NBC’s experimental station televised a college baseball game between Columbia and. During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, technology advanced with smaller, more transportable cameras, global satellite transmissions, and color television. These advances revolutionized sports broadcasting on television. In 1979, ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) became the first sports-focused network in the United States, thanks to the increased number of TV channels available through cable and satellite [8]. With the invention of the internet and the World Wide Web (www), sports journalism has reached a new height. Internet these days has become faster and more accessible when compared to its early days. With high-speed internet, one can even watch live matches on their smartphone, hence ending the necessity of television for watching live matches. The social media has also made it easy for the fans to follow their favorite athletes. Also, almost all sports teams have their own websites where they provide match reports, recaps, highlights, and other essential information. To ensure that sports journalism positively contributes to intercultural understanding and peacebuilding, particularly in areas with historically difficult political relationships, this issue must be addressed. By presenting actual data on how the media shapes nationalistic feelings during important sporting events and providing helpful advice for media outlets and journalists, this study aimed to close the current research gap.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study employed a qualitative as well as quantitative approaches to investigate the dominant themes, techniques, and narratives employed in framing Nationalism in the coverage of the ACC Asia Cup Cricket 2023 by newspapers in Nepal, India, and Pakistan. Data collection involved a comprehensive content analysis of three prominent newspapers: The Kathmandu Post (TKP) from Nepal, Times of India (TOI) from India, and Dawn from Pakistan. Issues published between August 25, 2023, and September 22, 2023, were scrutinized to capture the range of coverage during the Asia Cup. A content analysis was conducted fulfilling both quantitative and qualitative approaches. This study used both primary and secondary data. Expert interviews and news articles (collected for content analysis) are first hand data and are hence primary data. Academic literature, previous research, historical data, contextual information, and statistical data are used as secondary data in this study.  This content analysis has followed different categories. In the first category, the study has focused on the representation of the home and competing teams. The frequency of the names of the home and competing teams mentioned in the news items has been counted. This has helped to identify the positioning of the home team and the competing teams. The second category has been related to the level of identities that newspapers have set up for the home and other competing teams. Another category has been the counting of the use of pronouns like “We/Us/Our” and “They/Them/There.” Finally, the frequency of superlative and comparative adjectives (with positive or negative predicates) in the news items has been another category of analysis. The main actors of the headlines, tones, and the main subjects in the photographs have also been analyzed. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select newspapers that represent the media landscapes of Nepal, India, and Pakistan. The selection criteria ensured the inclusion of widely circulated newspapers known for their sports coverage. Hence chose The Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Times of India (India), and Dawn (Pakistan). For expert interviews, sports journalists (newspaper), commentators/sports presenters, and experts of South Asia studies were chosen using the purposive sampling technique. Former and present cricketers were also interviewed. A total of nine experts were interviewed. The data analysis involved a systematic approach to identify dominant themes and narratives in the newspaper coverage. Content analysis was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Each article was coded and categorized to capture recurring themes and patterns. Quantitative data were analyzed with the help of statistical tools and tables. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically. “ATLAS. ti Web Client” software was employed for data coding and organization, facilitating efficient analysis and interpretation. This study followed ethical guidelines throughout the research period.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 01: Coverage of Asia Cup 2023 in Newspapers by issues

S.N.	Newspapers	Issues that covered Asia Cup 2023	Issues that did not cover Asia Cup 2023	Total Issues
1.	TKP	10	19	29
2.	TOI	24	5	29
3.	Dawn	27	2	29
Total		61	26	87

 

Table 02: Breakdown of the News Items by Category

S.N.	Content Category	TKP	TOI	Dawn	Total
1.	Match/News Reports	7	43	34	84
2.	Analysis	1	13	4	18
3.	Editorial	1	–	–	1
4.	Stand Alone Photograph	2	1	8	11
5.	Commentary	–	30	14	44
6.	Letter to the Editor	–	–	1	1
Total		11	87	61	159

TKP and TOI each placed only one news item on the front page while all other items were placed on the inner page, i.e. the sports section. In Dawn, 7 news items were placed on the front page. Among them, two were match reports while the rest were stand-alone photos [9].

Table 03: Breakdown of News Items by their size

S.N.	Content size	TKP	TOI	Dawn	Total
1.	One-column	2	22	28	52
2.	Two-column	1	21	5	27
3.	Three-column	3	14	6	23
4.	Four-column	3	16	8	27
5.	Five-column	2	11	10	23
6.	Six-column	–	1	2	3
7.	Seven-column	–	1	2	3
8.	Eight-column	–	1	–	1
Total		11	87	61	159

For three-column articles, TOI had 14, TKP had 3, and Dawn had 6. Four-column articles were also more frequent in TOI (16), with Dawn (8) and TKP (3) having fewer. Five-column articles were somewhat evenly distributed with TOI publishing 11 and Dawn publishing 10. TKP published only 2 five-column news articles. Larger articles of six, seven, and eight columns were rare, with TOI having one each in these categories, Dawn having two six-column and two seven-column articles, and TKP having none. Overall, TOI produced the most extensive coverage across all article sizes, followed by Dawn, while TKP had the least coverage and smaller-sized articles [11].

Table 04: Mention of Nationalities in TKP (Scorecards Excluded)

S.N.	Nationalities	Mentions	Percentage	Mentions per news item
1.	Nepal/Nepali/NEP/Rhino	83	27.04%	7.55
2.	Pakistan/Pakistani/PCB	88	28.66%	8
3.	India/Indian/BCCI	72	23.45%	6.55
4.	Sri Lanka/Sri Lankan/SLC	41	13.36%	3.73
5.	Bangladesh/Bangladeshi/BCB	10	3.26%	0.91
6.	Afghanistan/Afghan	13	4.23%	1.18
Total		307	100%	27.91

Table 05: Main Subject of the Photographs in TKP

S.N.	Main Subject	Frequency	Percentage
1.	Home team/players	5	50%
2.	Opponent team/players	1	10%
3.	Both Home and Opponent team	1	10%
4.	Other Competing team/players	3	30%
Total		10	100%

TKP featured photos of national teams in every news article, even in the losing match where the opponent’s single photo could have been more pertinent. This shows an intentional editorial decision to foster national identity and patriotism. TKP consistently promoted a sense of national pride and identity in its readers regardless of the result of the matches. This editorial choice shows unwavering support towards the home team, even in defeat. It also develops a narrative of resilience, national loyalty, and unity [12].

Table 06: Main Actors in the Headlines of TKP

S.N.	Main Actor	Positive	Negative	Neutral	Total
1.	Representative of Home Team	2	2	–	4 (44.44%)
2.	Opponent Team/Player	–	–	–	–
3.	Both	1	–	–	1 (11.11%)
4.	Neither nor	3	1	–	4 (44.44%)
Total					9 (100%)

Table 07: Quotation of Sources in TKP

S.N.	Quotation Type	Home players/coaches	Competing team’s players/coaches	Total
1.	Direct	13	10	23
2.	Indirect	4	4	8
Total		17 (54.84%)	14 (45.16%)	31 (100%)

Table 08: The Usage of Pronouns in TKP

S.N.	Usage of Pronouns	Frequency	Frequency per news item
1.	We/Us/Our referring to home team	22	3.67
2.	We/Us/Our referring to opponent team	0	0
3.	They/Them/Their referring to home team	33	5.5
4.	They/Them/Their referring to opponent team	13	2.17
Total		68

The usage of pronouns was analyzed only in such news items where one of the competing teams of the match was the home team. There were 6 such news items in TKP. The pronouns “We/Us/Our” referring to the home team appeared 22 times, averaging 3.67 times per news item. In contrast, these pronouns were never used to refer to the opponent team. The pronouns “They/Them/Their” referring to the home team appeared 33 times, averaging 5.5 times per news item. When referring to the opponent team, these pronouns appeared 13 times, averaging 2.17 times per news item. This indicates a higher frequency of pronouns that create a sense of ‘us vs. them’ when talking about the home team compared to the opponent team [13].

Table 09: The Usage of Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in TKP

S.N.	Adjective denoting	Home team	Opponent team
1.	Positive Comparative/Superlative	7	8
2.	Negative Comparative/Superlative	4	0
Total		11	8

Table 10: Mention of Nationalities in TOI (Scorecards Excluded)

S.N.	Nationalities	Mentions	Percentage	Mentions per news item
1.	India/Indian/BCCI	365	37.09%	4.2
2.	Pakistan/Pakistani/PCB	215	21.85%	2.47
3.	Sri Lanka/Lankan/SLC	206	20.93%	2.37
4.	Bangladesh/Bangladeshi/BCB	120	12.20%	1.17
5.	Afghanistan/Afghani	45	4.57%	0.52
6.	Nepal/Nepali	33	3.35%	0.38
Total		984	100%	11.31

Sri Lanka followed closely with 206 mentions, making up 20.93% of the total, averaging 2.37 mentions per news item. Bangladesh was mentioned 120 times, representing 12.20% of the total, with about 1.17 mentions per news item. Afghanistan had 45 mentions, or 4.57% of the total, averaging 0.52 mentions per news item. Nepal was mentioned the least, with 33 mentions, making up 3.35% of the total, and averaging 0.38 mentions per news item [14].

Table 11: Main Subject of the Photographs in TOI

S.N.	Main Subject	Frequency	Percentage
1.	Home team/players	34	53.97%
2.	Opponent team/players	7	11.11%
3.	Both Home and Opponent team/players	4	6.35%
4.	Other Competing team/players	18	28.57%
Total		63	100%

This distribution indicates a predominant emphasis on the home team in TOI’s visual coverage, aligning with a nationalistic framing. The lower frequency of photographs focusing on opponent and other competing teams suggests a secondary level of importance given to these subjects, reflecting the newspaper’s prioritization of home team representation [15].

Table 12: Main Actors in the Headlines of TOI

S.N.	Main Actor	Positive	Negative	Neutral	Mixed	Total
1.	Representative of Home Team	36	7	2	–	45 (51.72%)
2.	Opponent Team/Player	5	4	–	–	9 (10.34%)
3.	Both	–	–	3	1	4 (4.60%)
4.	Neither nor	14	11	1	3	29 (33.33%)
Total						87 (100%)

Table 13: Quotation of Sources in TOI

S.N.	Quotation Type	Home players/coaches/officials	Competing team’s players/coaches	Others	Total
1.	Direct	107	45	1	153
2.	Indirect	28	22	3	53
Total		135 (65.53%)	67 (32.52%)	4 (1.94%)	206

Table 14: The Usage of Pronouns in TOI

S.N.	Usage of Pronouns	Frequency	Frequency per article
1.	We/Us/Our referring to home team	55	0.81
2.	We/Us/Our referring to opponent team	7	0.1
3.	They/Them/Their referring to home team	52	0.76
4.	They/Them/Their referring to opponent team	33	0.49
Total		147

Table 15: The Usage of Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in TOI

S.N.	Adjective denoting	Home team	Opponent team
1.	Positive Comparative/Superlative	38	8
2.	Negative Comparative/Superlative	2	2
Total		40	10

In the Times of India (TOI), the home team was described using 40 comparative and superlative adjectives, compared to only 10 for the opponent teams. Moreover, 38 positive adjectives were used for the home team, while only 8 were used for the opponent team. Surprisingly, both the home and opponent teams received an equal number of negative adjectives, with two each [16].

Table 16: Mention of Nationalities in Dawn Newspaper (Scorecards Excluded)

S.N.	Nationalities	Mentions	Percentage	Mentions per news content
1.	Pakistan/Pakistani/PCB	351	33.18%	5.75
2.	India/Indian/BCCI	265	25.05%	4.34
3.	Sri Lanka/ Sri Lankan/SLC	191	18%	3.13
4.	Bangladesh/Bangladeshi/BCB	115	10.87%	1.89
5.	Afghanistan/Afghan	72	6.81%	1.18
6.	Nepal/Nepali	64	6.05%	1.05
Total		1058	100%	17.34

In the Dawn newspaper, the nationalities of the participating countries were mentioned a total of 1058 times, the highest among all three studied newspapers. Dawn mentioned its home team’s nationality 351 times, accounting for 33.18% of all mentions. On average, this amounts to 5.75 mentions per news item. India follows as the second most frequently mentioned nationality (265 times), comprising 25.05% of all mentions and averaging 4.34 mentions per news item. Sri Lanka is mentioned 191 times, while Bangladesh (115), Afghanistan (72), and Nepal (64) have fewer mentions of nationalities in the Dawn newspaper [17].

Table 17: Main Subject of the Photographs in Dawn Newspaper

S.N.	Main Subject	Frequency	Percentage
1.	Home team/players	14	37.84%
2.	Opponent team/players	2	5.41%
3.	Both Home and Opponent team/players	5	13.51%
4.	Other Competing team/players	16	43.24%
Total		37	100%

In the Dawn Newspaper, the home team or players were the most prominently featured subjects, comprising 37.84% of the total photographs, with a frequency of 14. In contrast, the opponent team or players received considerably less attention, appearing in only 2 instances, which accounted for 5.41% of the total. Interestingly, photographs featuring both home and opponent teams/players constituted 13.51% of the total, with a frequency of 5 [18].

Table 18: Main Actors in the Headlines of Dawn Newspaper

S.N.	Main Actor	Positive	Negative	Neutral	Total	Percent
1.	Representative of Home Team	12	5	1	18	33.96%
2.	Opponent Team/Player	5	3	2	10	18.87%
3.	Both	–	1	2	3	5.66%
4.	Neither nor	13	5	4	22	41.51%
Total					53	100%

In Dawn newspaper, the representative of home team were the main actors in the 18 headlines. In 10 headlines, opponent teams/players were the main actors [19]. Both home and opponent teams were main actor in only 3 headlines. The 22 headlines had actors who were neither the home nor the opponent team but were other competitors.

Table 19: Quotation of Sources in Dawn Newspaper

S.N.	Quotation Type	Home players/coaches	Competing players/coaches	Others	Total
1.	Direct	138	118	7	263
2.	Indirect	36	41	1	78
Total		174 (51.02%)	159 (46.62%)	8 (2.35%)	341 (100%)

Table 20: The Usage of Pronouns in Dawn Newspaper

S.N.	Usage of Pronouns	Frequency	Frequency per article
1.	We/Us/Our referring to home team	63	2.42
2.	We/Us/Our referring to opponent team	16	0.62
3.	They/Them/Their referring to home team	46	1.77
4.	They/Them/Their referring to opponent team	20	0.77
Total		145

In the Dawn newspaper, “We/Us/Our” referring to the home team appeared 63 times, with an average frequency of 2.42 times per article. Similarly, “We/Us/Our” referring to the opponent team appeared 16 times, with an average frequency of 0.62 times per article. “They/Them/Their” referring to the home team appeared 46 times, with an average frequency of 1.77 times per article, while “They/Them/Their” referring to the opponent team are found 20 times, with an average frequency of 0.77 times per article. In total, there are 145 occurrences of these pronouns in the data [20].

Table 21: The Usage of Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in Dawn Newspaper

S.N.	Adjective denoting	Home team	Opponent team
1.	Positive Comparative/Superlative	11	6
2.	Negative Comparative/Superlative	1	1
Total		12	7

In the Dawn newspaper, 12 comparative and superlative adjectives were used to denote the home team. Among them 11 were positive and 1 was negative. The newspaper used only 7 adjectives to denote the opponent team. Among them 6 were positive and 1 was negative [21]. The Kathmandu Post’s different narratives and themes include national identity, patriotism, respect for opponents, achievement, athletes as national heroes, a spirit of competition, underdog, and upset. Nepal competed in the Asia Cup for the first time and faced senior Indian and Pakistani teams. It was a big achievement for Nepali cricket; they could ask for nothing more. The TKP also published an editorial in its issue of September 6, 2023, to appreciate the players’ performance against the powerhouse nation, India. The editorial was titled “Sweet rendezvous in Kandy.” The editorial said, “As our players rubbed shoulders with their idols, they showed they were more than fanboys on the crease.” TKP described India as “one of the toughest opponents” and showed respect to them [22]. Indian cricketers are among the highest-paid sportspersons and are also listed in Forbes’s top 100. The government invests a significant sum of money in the development of sports infrastructure, salaries, and other services and facilities. However, the plight of athletes in Nepal is quite different. They lack resources and facilities. The government also appears reluctant to fulfill its promises of “providing good facilities and prize money,” which it makes every time the national team wins an important match [23]. The editorial notes that we (Nepali) have seen enough games and it is time to work for these players’ well-being. The editorial stresses there is a disparity in payment for cricketers where A-grade male players earn Rs 60,000 monthly, and women of the same grade receive a pitiful Rs 21 000. The editorial further emphasizes that the sum “not only discourages the existing players but also those who want to make cricket their career and passion in the future.” The editorial strikes a message that “the cricketers have given us the games to be proud of. The government must reciprocate by providing them with the resources they need to grow”. TKP has used quotes from the national team’s captain and head coach to convey a sense of national identity/consciousness and patriotism. On August 30, 2023, in a news article titled “Nepal face Pakistan today,” Captain Rohit Paudel is quoted saying, “We had not thought we would be playing against India and Pakistan, but we have got an opportunity, we respect that opportunity and try to give our best… The whole world will be watching us and obviously we will try to give our best”. The mention of “the whole world will be watching us” shows a sense of national pride as well as pressure and responsibility when fans expect a better performance [24]. The quotation of head coach Monty Desai also reveals that the Asia Cup tournament is an opportunity that opens the path for Nepal to establish its name as a cricketing nation. Desai had mentioned that it was an opportunity to play against full-member cricket teams and that they were venturing into the unknown. He acknowledged the desire to win against a full-member team [25]. Although there were few instances when the TOI showed some diplomacy. On August 27, 2023, TOI published an article “Binny to attend Asia Cup matches in Pak.” It quoted BCCI president Roger Binny, who stated that his previous travels to Pakistan had been very pleasant and that the people there were very hospitable. He recalled that during the 1980s, shop owners were excited to host Indians and offered them tea at every store they visited [26]. The Times of India would describe the Nepali cricket team as a minion who didn’t have “pedigree” like the one India or Pakistan did. For TOI, team India was always invincible and it could be beaten only if the playing conditions were altered. TOI notes, “Nepal would also hope for a rain-shortened contest where a 20-over shootout has the potential to become a lottery. All matches in Sri Lanka may now be lotteries, thanks to the tournament being played during monsoons” [27]. This shows “underestimation of weaker teams” and “underdog vs powerhouse” narratives. TOI also respected the Nepali cricket team’s passion for the game. TOI writes, “Nepal, who were humbled by 238 runs in Multan by Pakistan will look to give India a few jitters and what they may lack in pedigree, they would like to make up with passion”. The narratives of security issues in Pakistan were also found in ToI’s coverage. On August 27, 2023, it was mentioned in a news article that “After India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka were roped in as co-hosts.” On September 6, 2023, TOI used a quote headline where BCCI’s secretary and ACC president Jay Shah were quoted. The headline said, “Members were initially hesitant to play Asia Cup in Pakistan: Jay Shah.” Jay Shah said, “All the full members, media rights holder, and in-stadia rights holders were initially hesitant to commit to hosting the entire tournament in Pakistan. This reluctance stemmed from concerns related to the security and economic situation prevailing in the country” [28]. However, TOI underlined the possibility of India’s chances of touring Pakistan. In the same news article, TOI wrote: Incidentally, except India, all the other participating teams involved in the Asia Cup are playing in Pakistan. Since the beginning of 2022, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies have toured there too. BCCI president Roger Binny and vice-president Rajeev Shukla is currently in Pakistan on the invitation of the PCB. TOI also covered the news of BCCI officials’ visit to Pakistan where they met their equivalent. The talks resulted in a mutual conclusion that “cricket and politics shall not be mixed.” But the geopolitics frequently comes into play undermining the spirit of the game. Pakistani sports minister Ehsaan Mazari issued a strong warning to India after India chose not to participate in the Asia Cup held in Pakistan. Mazari said that his country will retaliate by withdrawing from the 2023 World Cup in India [29]. Historical conflicts and ongoing political tensions have affected international to ground-level sports tournaments. Following the 2008 Mumbai attack, India and Pakistan met only once in a bilateral series, in 2012, and they play each other only in World Cups or Asia Cups. The Big 3 (India, England, and Australia) have financially dominated the global cricket scene for the last two decades. This dominance is unlikely to change due to the current structure of international cricket, which creates an imbalance favoring these three nations. In the 2016-2023 broadcasting cycle, the ICC allocated about $393 million to India, while 93 associate or junior cricketing nations received a combined total of $215 million (Aujla, 2023). Last year, the BCCI’s share of ICC revenues increased to 38.5% for the 2024-2027 cycle, resulting in the Indian cricket board earning around $230 million. In comparison, the England Cricket Board and Cricket Australia will receive 6.89% ($41 million) and 6.25% ($37.53 million) respectively [30]. Dawn newspaper aimed to promote fairness and balance in the cricketing world. On September 10, 2023, Dawn published an article titled “PCB urged to lead fight for equality in cricket.” In the article, Dawn quoted former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood who said, “Pakistan should come forward to end the powerful roles of India, Australia, and England in world cricket affairs.” Reporter Mohammad Yaqoob quoted former chairman Mahmood seven times in the article, highlighting the newspaper’s support for the PCB’s stance. The reporter also mentioned the India vs Pakistan rivalry by quoting Mahmood’s statement, “BCCI is using every tactic to isolate Pakistan in the world of cricket.” This behavior supports what Dawn’s sub-editor Mir Shabbar Ali [31] stated in the expert interview with the researcher: “Dawn may slightly have an inclination towards Pakistan when it is about controversies between the PCB and BCCI. But there is no special approach when it is about cricket itself.” The sentences provoking nationalist sentiments are listed below: Pakistan should come forward to end the powerful roles of India, Australia, and England in world cricket affairs. Only Pakistan can play such role to stop the injustice done by India, Australia, and England, also because Pakistan has strong team in all formats and it holds strong voice to lead and protect the interests of weak cricketing nations… If no one steps forward, the smaller cricketing nations are going to suffer financially [32]. Dawn often emphasized the positive opinions others had about the Pakistan cricket team reflecting a narrative of national pride and excellence in sports journalism. The newspaper prioritized quoting complimentary remarks from players of opponent teams about the Pakistani cricket team. In its articles, Dawn frequently highlighted their home team as the “top-ranked” team in ODI rankings. Media researcher and sports journalist Ujjwal Acharya [33] states that the national team represents the respective nation. Therefore, fan following is automatically connected to nationalism. The national team is seen as a source of national pride. National teams, colors, and flags are also considered national pride. Players are often referred to as the “jewels of the nation” (rashtra ko gahana). There is a belief that sports introduce nations to the world, making sports a tool of national identity where nationalism regularly emerges. He further states that every sports journalist is a sports fan before becoming a journalist. Thus, it is natural that they are inclined towards their home team or players when reporting on international matches. Former Indian cricketer and present commentator Anjum Chopra [34] perceives the role of the media during major sporting events like the Asia Cup as primarily focused on engaging the audience rather than shaping nationalist narratives. She asserts that for broadcasters, the task remains consistent and that media coverage is seen as a way to keep viewers engaged rather than influence public sentiment about nationalism. When asked about bias in commentary, Chopra emphasizes that commentators are expected to be unbiased, which is how she approaches her role. She acknowledges that some personal bias can sometimes come through but believes it is up to the individual commentator to balance their feelings with their professional duties. Chopra sees the role of sports commentators and journalists as crucial in calling the game and setting the narrative. Their job is to make the coverage engaging, informative, and entertaining for a global audience, rather than targeting specific societies or nations. She emphasizes that during commentary, the focus should remain on the sport rather than discussing issues of nationalism. Sub-editor and sports reporter of Dawn newspaper Mir Shabbar Ali [35] highlights the strong connection between sports and national identity, suggesting that international sporting events provide a stage for nations to showcase their unique characteristics through their athletes. He believes that the way athletes perform in these events reflects the identity of their nation. For instance, Pakistan’s cricket team is known for its unpredictability, flair, and aggression, traits that Ali feels are reflective of the Pakistani people. Pawan Acharya, the News Chief at Radio Kantipur, provides insightful observations on the intersection of sports, nationalism, and media in Nepal. His views highlight the unique role cricket plays in Nepal’s national identity and diplomacy, as well as the responsibilities and biases of sports journalists. He notes that cricket has achieved what traditional diplomatic efforts often struggle with introducing Nepal to the world and fostering a sense of national pride [36]. This underscores the powerful influence of sports as a tool for national representation and international recognition. In countries with limited infrastructure and resources, sports can serve as a unifying and pride-inducing element that transcends political and social barriers. Acharya also touches on the natural intertwining of nationalism with the everyday lives of citizens, which inevitably extends to sports and sports journalism. He argues that national anthems and flags in sports events intensify national pride among spectators, making sports a platform for spreading nationalism [37]. This observation suggests that sports journalists, part of this nationalistic society, may unintentionally reflect and reinforce these sentiments in their reporting. The inherent bias of journalists as fans of the sport and their national teams is evident, as their passion can influence their perspective and coverage. Furthermore, Acharya highlights the changing dynamics in media narratives. Previously, media created and propagated narratives, but now, they often carry forward the narratives generated by society or their target audience [38]. This shift reflects a more participatory and responsive media landscape, where public sentiment significantly influences journalistic content. In the context of sports, this means that the nationalistic fervor of the audience can shape the way events are reported and perceived. The role of sports in unifying a divided society is another crucial point made by Acharya. He emphasizes that sports bring together people from various backgrounds, helping to create a sense of unity and shared national identity [39]. In a country like Nepal, where divisions based on caste, religion, and region are prevalent, the national sports team symbolizes inclusivity and collective pride. He also discusses the practical aspects of sports journalism, noting that editors may not prioritize sports news unless it involves a significant event, leaving the responsibility to bureau chiefs. This indicates that the prominence of sports coverage can vary based on its perceived importance and relevance to national interests. Newspapers often frame nationalism in their coverage of mega sports events because victories bring national pride. However, such framings can lead to negative behaviors like demeaning other countries. Historical rivalries and alliances play a role in current media narratives around cricket, often leading to biased reporting and heightened nationalistic sentiments. Trained sports journalists can help mitigate jingoistic tendencies and promote open-mindedness and tolerance among sports fans [40]. Emily Crick, Research Development Associate at the University of Bristol [41], believes that sports journalists frame nationalism while reporting on mega-sports events because national teams inherently represent their countries, which is the fundamental purpose of these tournaments. She notes that framing these events as “war minus shooting,” a concept introduced by George Orwell in 1945, has become more prevalent in the present. This shift is attributed to the global rise of nationalism, which journalists are keen to capitalize on to engage their audience. Crick acknowledges that cricket has occasionally served as a useful tool for diplomacy in South Asia. Regular bilateral series between India and Pakistan in the past provided opportunities for politicians and the general public to meet and engage, fostering people-to-people contact that can break down barriers to peace. However, she cautions that cricket is not a substitute for meaningful peace talks and remains vulnerable to disruptions, as evidenced by the cessation of the bilateral Test series between India and Pakistan following the 2008 Mumbai attacks [42].

4. CONCLUSION

The Nepali, Indian, and Pakistani newspapers employed various narratives and techniques to frame nationalism in their coverage of ACC Asia Cup 2023. The Kathmandu Post (TKP) employs a balanced approach with a slight bias towards local interests, featuring the home team prominently in photographs, headlines, quotations, and pronouns while maintaining a critical yet fair portrayal through a mix of positive and negative adjectives. In contrast, The Times of India (TOI) demonstrates a pronounced nationalistic bias, heavily favoring the home team in photographs, headlines, quotations, and pronouns, using overwhelmingly positive adjectives to promote local superiority over opponents. Dawn takes a more neutral stance, offering balanced coverage with equitable representation of both the home team and opponents in photographs, headlines, quotations, and pronouns, using positive adjectives to respectfully acknowledge strengths on both sides. These approaches illustrate how each newspaper strategically frames nationalism to shape reader perceptions and support local teams in their coverage. The Kathmandu Post (TKP) focused on themes of national identity, pride, and respect for opponents. TKP also highlighted Nepal’s historic participation in the tournament and the opportunity the event presented to elevate Nepal’s status in the cricketing world. TKP used a balanced approach, with positive and critical adjectives for the home team, and frequent use of pronouns like “We/Us/Our” to foster a sense of unity and national pride. The Times of India (TOI), on the other hand, emphasized the supremacy and dominance of the Indian cricket team, often framing the narrative around rivalry, particularly against Pakistan. TOI significantly used positive adjectives for the home team and war metaphors to evoke strong nationalistic sentiments. The Indian media’s coverage frequently highlighted India’s preparations for the World Cup and often downplayed Pakistan’s role as a co-host, reflecting underlying political tensions. TOI’s narratives also comprised sports diplomacy. Dawn’s coverage shared common narratives of national identity and rivalry but also focused on Pakistan’s responsibility to support weaker cricketing nations and balance global cricket power dynamics. Dawn highlighted Pakistan’s role as a host and the strength of its fast bowlers, invoking the legacy of legendary Pakistani pacers. This approach reinforced national pride while maintaining a balanced perspective by also recognizing the strengths of opponent teams. Issues/narratives related to the injuries of home players were also found in Dawn newspaper. War metaphors like “conquered,” “clash” and “rout” were repeatedly used in the newspapers. Newspapers frame nationalism during the coverage of mega sports events to engage their audience emotionally and foster a sense of collective identity and pride. Nationalism in sports coverage taps into the inherent tribalism of sports fandom, where supporters are deeply invested in the success and recognition of their national teams. This framing not only boosts readership and viewership but also strengthens the bond between the audience and the nation. By highlighting national achievements and rivalries, newspapers create compelling narratives that resonate with the public’s sense of belonging and pride. Sports journalists are sports fans before they become journalists. Thus, it is obvious that they become biased and spill nationalism in their writing while reporting on sports events. Their passion for the sport and their national teams can influence their perspective, leading them to emphasize national pride and competition. This inherent bias is further amplified by the expectations of their audience, who often share the same nationalistic sentiments. As a result, their reporting can unintentionally reflect and reinforce these nationalistic narratives. The sports administrating bodies or organizers of mega-events, such as the ACC or ICC in cricket, are also responsible for promoting nationalism. They often highlight or promote high-stakes matches because these generate significant profits through ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and other revenue streams. This promotion leads journalists to frame nationalism unintentionally or unknowingly. Additionally, framing nationalism serves to reinforce the geopolitical narratives and cultural values of the respective countries. In the context of South Asia, where historical and political tensions are prevalent, sports events become a platform for expressing national superiority and unity. Newspapers use these events to promote nationalistic sentiments and strengthen national morale, especially in countries where sports achievements are seen as a source of national pride and international recognition. Sports journalists’ role is crucial in mitigating jingoistic tendencies and fostering open-mindedness and tolerance among sports fans. They can achieve this by adopting a balanced and nuanced approach in their reporting. Journalists should highlight the sportsmanship, mutual respect, and shared experiences between competing teams, rather than solely focusing on nationalistic fervor and rivalries. By emphasizing the human aspect of sports, such as the personal stories of players, their struggles, and their respect for opponents, journalists can create a more inclusive and empathetic narrative. Moreover, sports journalists should avoid using war metaphors and aggressive language that can exacerbate nationalistic tensions. Instead, they should promote the values of fair play, respect, and international camaraderie. By providing balanced coverage that appreciates the skills and achievements of all teams, journalists can help fans develop a more open-minded perspective.

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