Can sports be separate from politics? Does someone’s politics shape the way you see them, no matter their performances on the cricket pitch?
This was a question asked in the context of the controversy around the Muttiah Muralitharan biopic, and tackled by Tamil Guardian co-editor Abinaya Nathan on BBC Asia Network’s ‘Big Debate’ on Tuesday.
Joined by Tamil Nadu journalist Kavitha Muralidharan as well as a Sri Lankan sports journalist representing the ‘pro-Muralitharan’ angle, Ms Nathan sets out why the cricketer’s politics cannot be separated from his sporting achievements.
Listen to the debate on BBC iPlayer here. (Segment from 1:39:00-2:00:00)