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| Illustration by Copilot Designer |
Why did India agree to play Pakistan at all if the
animosity runs so deep that Indian players could not even extend the customary
handshake: a simple ritual that embodies the very essence of sportsmanship?
Cricket is not war, in the first
place. When a nation turns a game into a war, it does not defeat its rival; it
only wages war on its own culture, poisoning its acclaimed greatness. India
which claims to be Viswaguru, the world’s Guru, is degenerating itself
day after day with mounting hatred against everyone who is not Hindu.
How can we forget what India did to a
young cricket player named Mohammed Siraj, especially in this context?
In the recent test series against England, India achieved an unexpected draw
because of Siraj. 1113 balls and 23 wickets. He was instrumental in India’s
series-levelling victory in the final Test at the Oval and was declared the Player
of the Match. But India did not celebrate him. Instead, it mocked him for his
occasional failures like missing a catch. He was asked on social media why he
didn’t leave cricket and go to drive his father’s autorickshaw. He was insulted
time and again merely because of his religion.
Even the legendary Indian cricketer
Sachin Tendulkar applauded Siraj’s achievements and said that Siraj played a
crucial role in India’s victory against England. Tendulkar also added that
Siraj was not extended the laurels he deserved.
I am no fan of cricket. In fact, I think of the game as a lazy person’s
way of spending time in the sun during winters. I know the game evolved much
from those lassitudinous 5-day tests to one -day shows and even better 20-twenties.
Gentlemen supposedly played for honour back then, and now gladiators play for
sponsors. The cricketers in India are now commodities auctioned in the market
run by a corporate nexus which is led by a politician’s son (who doesn’t seem
to have a brain). I find the entire thing as ridiculous as it ever was in my
imagination right from my childhood.
I have written in this space
repeatedly that the most deleterious disservice that the Modi Inc. has done to
India is the communal hatred they [the right wing] injected into the country’s
veins. Now, even our cricketers are infected! What a pity!
They ceased to be cricketers the
moment they let such venom of hatred enter their hearts. I understand that they
were instructed by their country’s government not to shake hands with their Pak
counterparts. There you are: your government is responsible for the toxin that
your heroes spewed in Dubai today.
I am against that government. Because
of the hatred it keeps pumping into the country’s bloodstream year after year.
By a 75-year-old man and his criminal gang. At 75, you’d expect a MODIcum of
wisdom from human beings. But then, you can’t expect wisdom from brutes, said
Nietzsche in a moment of brilliant insanity.
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| A Malayalam weekly celebrating Siraj's contributions |
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteQuite so... I was unaware things had gotten this bad, but it's true that sport - and particularly cricket - are supposed to be above such nonsense. Sigh... YAM xx
There's nothing left uncontaminated by the poison.
DeleteI am only sorry that Gavecattle velsaskar, the cricketer's cricketer did not levels come out in support of Siraj and his proven mettle. He is a gentleman and human being. Why they played with Pakistan? For money, as the game has denigrated itself to the levels of a weekly cattle shanty, where mutts would be bargained for. Not having shaken hands... That is the Nadir of the gentleman's game.
ReplyDeleteA lot of money is involved. But hatred of this degree is new.
DeleteAh, sportsball. Fans can be so awful to the athletes.
ReplyDeleteHere one of the two teams became awful.
Delete