Mohammad Kaif remembers his playing days and being section of India-Pakistan matches within the wake of the gruesome spats on social media, after the sport.
It’s been a few days since the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup game, nevertheless there is one physique that has stayed with me. The image of Virat Kohli warmly shaking Babar Azam’s hand and later encouraging the assorted unbeaten Pakistan batsman Mohammad Rizwan by ruffling his hair, used to be my takeaway from the motion-packed game. It delivered to mind my playing days and contributors India-Pakistan games.
I was hardly 15 as soon as I played my first excessive-profile India-Pakistan game, it used to be the final of the age-neighborhood World Cup. All of us had been young nevertheless there used to be readability in our minds. It used to be a game where our eyes had been on the trophy and no longer on the colour of jersey our opponents wore or the historical past of the two worldwide locations. I would possibly per chance maybe be lying if I dispute it used to be ‘dazzling one other game’ since it wasn’t and it will’t be. One it used to be a World Cup closing and, two, I was very great aware of the intense cricketing contention between the two worldwide locations. But to dispute that I’d had been less centered and never more pushed if we had been going via Australia within the title contest would possibly per chance maybe be scandalous. I do know India-Pakistan games topic plenty to the fans nevertheless everybody ought to designate that for a player every match that he or she plays for India matters. To position on India colours and to play below tri-colour is a significant topic, constantly.
Later I played three extra World Cups. Two U-19 ICC occasions in 1998 and 2000 and to continue the shuffle I was section of Personnel India within the 2003 World Cup in Australia. I distinctly undergo in mind that compulsory partnership with Sachin Paaji within the center overs for the length of that tricky dawdle. It used to be such an intense game nevertheless we played in a cordial ambiance.
The next year, in 2004, I was on my first tour to Pakistan. It used to be a historical sequence as the two worldwide locations had been meeting every assorted after a truly long time. The field watched us as we crossed the border. We had been the ambassadors of our nation. I undergo in mind the message that used to be given to us by the then High Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee – ‘Khel bhi jeetna, dil bhi jeetna‘. I feel we cricketers trust stuck to that message for all these years. Skills of cricketers trust modified nevertheless we now trust tried our supreme to take the sport and also the hearts. Virat used to be dazzling extending that gorgeous custom. Vajpayee wanted us, cricketers, to be the bridge between the two worldwide locations and we, or those that played for the nation after us, trust no longer upset those that mediate in peace within the neighbourhood.
The of us I met in Pakistan had been very inquisitive to know about India. They would maybe question how used to be it to be a Muslim in India? And as soon as I’d direct them that I in reality trust led India to the Below-19 World Cup title and Mr APJ Abdul Kalam is the president of India, they would maybe smile. I’d also question them questions about their nation and I’d invariably accept that issues to be the an analogous as our nation. Be it food, dresses, language, jokes, there would possibly per chance maybe be that shrimp twist that would produce my inch to Pakistan extra charming.
In this backdrop, it is miles painful to glimpse the gruesome spats between extinct gamers and the very disappointing behaviours of the fans on social media. I in reality had been witnessing how Mohammad Shami used to be trolled after the sport in opposition to Pakistan. I in reality trust played sufficient cricket to cherish that the fans operate get hold of offended when their team loses a game by a large margin. I also get hold of it that since the fans trust invested so great within the team and gamers that they bear the upright to criticise them. A batsman getting out for zero or a bowler getting hit for a six will constantly face abuse – be it in a World Cup clash in opposition to Pakistan or an below-arm gully cricket game. But targeting any individual for his or her religion, asking them to leave the nation is uncalled for and unpardonable. Accurate bear in mind how a player, who for all his existence has sacrificed all the pieces to bear the India cap, would possibly per chance maybe be feeling. But Shami, I do know, is a tricky cricketer. I will be able to direct him from my expertise, we now trust great extra steady fans in our nation who give us unconditional love and they may be able to without anxiety outnumber the trolls on social media.
Take my note, in our numerous nation, there are a decision of those that mediate that those with assorted faiths can co-exist. Tranquil co-existence is no longer a fantasy. My companion is a Hindu and at our home there are celebrations and feast for each and every Eid and Diwali. As oldsters, we share with our formative years the teachings from each and every our religions.
I greater get hold of going as I want to aid Pooja with cleaning our home earlier than Diwali. Glimpse you quickly.
