Pakistan’s success in the Twenty20 cricket World Cup must rank as one of sports’ more timely victories. For a state that is supposed to be at war with itself, failing and in danger of fragmentation there cannot be a sweeter way to hit back.
Younus Khan who led his unfancied team comes from the North West Frontier Province, as does Shahid Afridi whose explosive batting took Pakistan to an eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka, another nation wracked by decades of civil war, but coming out of it.
The NWFP is the frontline of the war against the Taliban and al Qaeda that has so blighted the nation, left it divided, bleeding and saddled with a huge refugee problem. Indeed Khan said the World Cup was a gift to the people of Pakistan.
Cricinfo compared Pakistan’s success to a newly-reunified South Africa’s victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, saying there had not been a more timely win since then.
Younus also said cricketing nations must resume playing in his troubled, but cricket-mad nation.
“Everybody must come to Pakistan. We need a home test series. How can we attract the youngsters? Players muct come to Pakistan.”
Is the world ready to reconsider? Will India, no stranger to militancy itself, soften up? The 50-over World Cup scheduled for 2011 has been taken away from Pakistan, and is to be played now in only India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The ICC Champions Trophy that it was scheduled to host last year was shifted out, and Australia, New Zealand and England have refused to play there.
Indeed Pakistan’s cricket authorities have challenged the decision to drop them from the host nations of the 2011 World Cup and it has renewed a call to its co-Asian hosts to support its bid to hold the tournament.
Standing up for cricket in Pakistan may also be a way to challenge the forces of darkness that is the Taliban, argues Tunku Varadarajan in a piece for Forbes. The victory was a monumental boost to a nation drained of all morale.
And cricket, he says “offers an alternative vision of civilization with which Pakistanis can contrast the viciously bleak program of the Taliban.”
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I’m ran is grammatically wrong it should be I’m running
- Posted by RohitI used to consider Shahid Afridi as a hopeless batsman. but the way he played in the finals shocked me. I had never seen him batting so sensibly. Good job Pakistani team. Congratulations :).
- Posted by AshishBeing an Indian i support what Imran just said. I hope majority of Pakistani people also think like you Imran :).
your right Imran, India is not only a very populated nation but also diverse in every aspect. hence, you will also see various opinions on every issue.
for eg i am also rohit and dont quite share the views of my fellow indian. However, Since the question is on whether international cricket should resume in Pakistan or not, as you have also said, pakistan is not ready for it now. Coz, cricketers can only ensure that a cup comes to pakistan, there are other who have to work in getting a tournament back to the nation.
lastly the way india is progressing economically, we cant afford an instable neighbor hence we only hope that the time comes soon when injternational cricket comes back to pakistan
- Posted by Rohit S@ Imran
I do not bother about others. Every Indian has freedom unlike in your case. Any Indian who understands what is terrorism would support that India does not maintain any relationship with Pakistan. And if India does not maintain relationship with Pakistan then the only sufferers would be paki sympathizer muslims residing in India.
Some things are forced on both the countries by US and both countries kneel and cower to the pressure. Like Zardari Manmohan talks… No full scale war post start of events in Kargill… Pakistan’s forced attack on Taliban etc with motivation, money and defense backing by American forces.
Imran, Mullah Omar/ Osama etc would have wiped out your country (Pakistan) if America was not there to support, motivate and force useless, good for nothing Gilani, Zardari, Kiyani and company to fight. You should in fact, thank White House 24 times a day, 365 days a year and thank America for delaying the catapult of your country (Pakistan) and giving fresh (and I hope small) lease of life for time being.
- Posted by Rohit