Sports impact on politics and our lives-
Of cricket and politics
Iqbal Latif
Pakistan lacks discipline. And this is as integral to victory as talent (which is available in abundance). Without discipline the team will continue its present losing spree. First we need to overcome political dissension and rivalry
My Saturday was spent eagerly watching the event in Soweto, South Africa. No, I was not trying to learn about the black townships of South Africa and how they impact African geopolitics.
I spent my time watching one of the most intense cricketing matches of the World Cup. A match between Pakistan and India match holds no particular significance aside from the fact that the national honour of the two countries is at stake. According to former Indian cricketer Farukh Engineer this was perhaps one of the reasons for the cricketers’ nervousness at the beginning of the World Cup match. As was astutely observed, it is inconceivable that there ever will be a time when Indians do not perceive Pakistanis as their primary rivals and vice versa.
Nevertheless the match itself was quite interesting. Sachin Tendulkar emerging as the undeniable star of the show. Had Pakistan won, I would have no doubt authored a 15-page tribute about the talents and nature of our race. Pakistan’s team is by far one of the most entertaining, both on and off the field.
I’m not very good at eulogies. Despite my parochial loyalties I am the first to admit that the better team won and India was more than a match for Pakistan in this particular instance. Sachin Tendulkar has talent that is hard to quantify.
One should not sacrifice Indian Pakistani cricket on the altar of politics. That is inexcusable. I think cricket can bring the two nations closer and in fact a confrontation between the two teams can take care of excessive pent-up aggression — the Romans after all used to settle a number of political issues in the arenas. Bertrand Russell was a great proponent of the idea that nations should settle their controversial issues on sports fields.
Through the game of cricket one can deduce a great deal about the world. For example, one can see that Pakistan and India have emerged as mature nations, irreconcilably divided in some aspects yet united in others. Indeed a comment on the secular nature of the two nations is a must; an Indian Muslim was bowling to a Christian Pakistani batsman.
Observations can also be made about the characteristics and temperaments of the Pakistanis. As was once stated, “national characteristics are psychological traits overtly encouraged by cultural mores.” One can discern how the proud and individualistic nature of the Pakistanis prevents unity (which paradoxically is one of the three tenets underlying the Pakistani nation). It is quite entertaining to watch the Pakistani team, abrasive and aggressive be it the swift deliveries of Shoaib Akhtar or the disputes on field between skipper Waqar Younis and his more experienced rival, Wasim Akram.
This also reflects how Islam has permeated the Pakistani psyche. The egalitarianism underpinning Islamic ethics and culture makes it difficult for Pakistanis to accept the leadership of another. If one keeps this in mind, one can better understand the dismal trend of democratic governance in Muslim nations. Of course there are exceptions — Imran Khan was able to unite the unruly but talented lot and win the World Cup in 1992.
There is no doubt that the Pakistani team is talented. For instance, Shoaib Akhtar managed to set a new record by bowling faster than 100 miles per hour. However they lack the necessary discipline that is ensured by inspiring leadership. An interesting comment was made by commentator ante-spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq that the talented Shoaib Akhtar’s desire for self-promotion exceeded his love of the game. He added that if Akhtar were invited to be the lead commentator for a match he was playing in, he would abandon his post in the middle of the game!
Pakistan lacks discipline. And this is as integral to victory as talent (which is available in abundance). Without discipline the team will continue its present losing spree. First we need to overcome political dissension and rivalry; indeed for the Pakistan Cricket Board to award the captainship to Waqar Younis over the more experienced skipper Wasim Akram was as politically charged a move as the English Cricketing Board’s decision to forfeit the match against Zimbabwe.
I nurture the hope that our team will bounce back. Time and time again when Pakistan has suffered far too many setbacks and is written off by commentators, it has overcome the troubles to make a comeback. Hence I continue to hope, foolishly some may feel, that the Pakistan team will triumph once again.
Iqbal Latif is an International businessman
64.233.183.104 |
