Cricket team formation: Different nationalities can bond and play for a common cause - this has been happening much before ICL or IPL

Much before ICL and IPL happened, cricketers from different nations have played for the same team and bonded quite well. It happens all the time in English County cricket where players from Pakistan, Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, Australia and to an extent, India play for the same team. On such occasions, the player gives his best to ensure his county team wins. His nationality does not come into play at all.

Singapore clubs have always had players of different nationalities playing for the same club. When I first played cricket for Singapore Chinese Recreation Club in 1997, my opening batting partner was a Pakistani. (At that time tensions between the two countries were rather high. But we celebrated good cricket and ensured that our team won.) Other than the Pakistani, our team had a couple of Aussies, a couple of English men, Sri Lankans, South Africans, Indians and some Chinese as well. We played hard, we enjoyed each other's company and we wanted to win.

At the end of the day we had a good laugh over a chilled beer and that was that.

In other words, when you play for a team, you identify with the team, and little else.