Against
All Odds
By Dr Shireen M. Mazari
Moments of pure national exhilaration
have been few and far between in recent times for
Pakistan, confronted as we are with external and
internal pressures in fast-changing times. But our
cricket team provided us with one such moment which
we will recall in times of stress and doubts. Their
achievement ranks alongside other such moments of
national exhilaration after our creation, alongside
that of India’s in 1947.
There were our sporting triumphs in hockey and squash,
which I am sure had a role to play in the West implementing
international rule changes in both these games to
suit their style of playing. Our sporting establishment
willy-nilly gave in to these external pressures
-- showing little support for the game our players
had dedicated themselves to. And in the end the
team spirit remained weak and dissipated. There
was also our singular cricketing World Cup triumph
but the captain’s post-award speech focused
less on the team effort and more on the individual’s
triumph.
Beyond sports, we saw a few of our intellectuals
triumph against all odds whilst others died without
their due recognition. Our scientist Abdus Salam’s
success was due to his own resilience and genius
and despite the maltreatment at the hands of a state
he believed in till the end. And, as in the case
of sports, the state structures and bureaucracies
played a negative role. Has anything changed now?
Well, our one moment of national exhilaration at
the level of the state was the acquisition of our
nuclear capability -- against all international
odds. But here again individuals played a tremendous
role in going that extra mile -- from Z.A. Bhutto
to A.Q. Khan and all the other scientists who gave
of their knowledge and skills.
However, beyond this moment, one has seen moments
of national exhilaration despite the bureaucracies
and political machinations. Our cricketing triumph
in India was no exception to this. The PCB’s
bureaucracy and leadership have been rent with politics
and nonsensical turf wars. Many talented youngsters
have yet to be recognized while old favorites are
never allowed to be put to pasture. That is why
Yasser Arafat continues to be denied an opportunity
despite his massive cricketing talent that has been
apparent in domestic cricket. That is why the ageing
and clearly spent force Moin Khan’s name continues
to be whispered despite the sensational discovery
of young Kamran Akmal.
Undoubtedly, our cricketers rose above the PCB politics
and external interventions to showcase their talent
most convincingly in India. Our passion and pride
in their performance was made even more intense
because they battled all manner of odds in India,
despite their diplomatic pronouncements. They faced
a hostile crowd where each cricketing success on
their part was met with a haunting silence from
the crowds -- such a contrast to Pakistanis cheering
for the Indian side in this country. In addition,
the PCB officials had inexplicably agreed to an
absurd itinerary with massive logistical problems
and travel torments that would have tried the patience
of any team. Yet Inzamam and his boys refused to
let that get to them.
Finally, in the ODIs we saw the Indian captain Ganguly
launching into a tirade against one of our players
who had sat on the ground because of cramps. While
the referee was quick to penalize Inzamam for throwing
bat after dismissal close to the pavilion, he ignored
Ganguly’s outburst. And then our team had
to deal with the worst umpiring decisions from Indian
umpire A.V. Jayaprakash. But they triumphed against
all these odds and that is why we must acknowledge
their greatness -- not just as cricketers but as
human beings. They certainly did us proud in so
many ways. Let no one else take credit for their
triumph -- certainly not the PCB.
From a Pakistani perspective, the greatest attribute
of the team was that they actually acknowledged
the teamwork -- with each individual, even that
great and glorious cricketing anarchist, Shahid
Afridi, clearly stating that their success was a
team effort and for the team. Here, one really must
salute the captain -- unassuming Inzamam, so often
the butt of jokes and ribbing. He has come a long
way and he is exactly what Pakistan needs -- a leader
who quietly but resolutely leads without thrusting
the weight of an overgrown ego or personality. Just
as we need strong institutions rather than charismatic
leaders in this country, in team sports we need
leaders who melt in with a team spirit so that no
one is seen as bigger or more important than the
team. Inzamam’s players also did him proud.
We should realize that we have no room for the tantrum
throwers or egocentric players who feel they can
push their way around. We need the Naved-ul-Hasans
and Samis rather than the Shoaib Akhtars. Of course,
uniquely talented individuals add to the team but
only if they can become part of the team’s
identity. That is what Afridi has managed to do
while retaining his own individuality. Let us hope
that the sporting bureaucracy, normally a hindrance
rather than a help in pushing forward our sportspersons,
will not kill our cricketing potential after the
triumph over India.
But the cricket in India was definitely more than
just about the game. The matches revealed the Indian
psyche -- mean, niggardly and uncompromising. The
notion of sporting spirit for the Indians certainly
does not exist -- at least as far as Pakistan is
concerned. Such a contrast to the generosity and
sporting spirit shown to the Indians during their
cricketing tour of Pakistan! One has come to expect
political obduracy and a petty-mindedness from the
Indian political elite on substantive issues like
Kashmir and the Indus waters -- again in the face
of an almost continuous flexibility on the part
of Pakistan -- a negativity that is apparently reflected
at all levels of the Indian nation. Words and more
words is all we get from the Indian side on Kashmir,
Siachin, Sir Creek and Baglihar, even as they move
forward in fields of their interest in the dialogue
process with Pakistan -- such as trade and communications.
As for Pakistan, our cricket team also reflected
this nation at a micro level - defying all odds,
marching to its own drum beat with strong individuals,
perhaps less well-oiled professionally but playing
from the heart with a spirit of defiance, against
external pressures and internal wranglings. This
is Pakistan today -- a nation full of rich diversity,
seemingly squabbling on all issues but coming together
as a nation when the chips are down and in the face
of unresponsive state structures. That is why we
truly see our nation reflected in the cricket team
and that is why we should allow ourselves the pleasure
of basking in their glory and let the shadows fall
on the bureaucratic politics of the PCB. (Courtesy
The News)
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