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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (43665)	3/2/2003 7:11:34 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

An enviable triumph.. Zachary Latif My Saturday was spent eagerly watching for the event in Soweto, South Afirca. Nay I was trying to learn of the black townships of South Afircan and their future ramifications for African geopolitics (mind you loyal readers I shall return to Islamic civilization soon) rather I spent my time eagerly absorbing the proceedings of one of the most intense cricketing matches of the World Cup. In itself Pakistan vs. India holds no particular significance (Pakistan, through dint of chance and luck can still get through to the Super Six) except for the national honor at stake (as former Indian cricketer Farukh Engineer deduced as to why so many of the cricketers seemed nervous at the beginning of the match). As was astutely observed it was peculiar the extent the Pakistan fires the Indian imagination, indeed it is inconceivable that there will be a time when Indians do not perceive Pakistanis as their primary rival (vice versa indeed). Nevertheless the match itself was quite interesting with Sachin Tendulkar emerging as the undeniable star of the show. Of course had Pakistan won I would have no doubt authored a 15 page tribute to the talents and nature of our race (during the match, whilst constructing the ever so glorious post I was all set to cast the Pakistani team as the emblematic David against Goliath or even contrast it as the bearers of freedom stressing Judeo-Islamic values rather as in Thermopylae streaming to victory against the hordes of the oriental despotisms) nevertheless uncharacteristically I shall write a short post. I'm not very good at eulogies... Despite my parochial loyalties I am the first to admit that the better team won today and India was more than match for Pakistan in this particular instance. Sachin Tendulkar has a talent that is hard to quantify since it as present in the lithe flex of his bat to his general charisma and cool when effortlessly striding to victory. Intriguingly through the game of cricket one can deduce immensely about the nature of the wider world. Through the game one can discern how Pakistan and India have emerged as mature nations, irreconcilably diverged in most aspects yet united by some. Indeed as my father commented such was the secular nature of the two nations that an Indian Muslim was bowling to a Christian Pakistani batsmen, minorities above all loyal to their state. Of course still furious over the Kaif incident I added the further quip that loyalty was a necessity whence the alternative was the steaming fire of the mob. Though it is still impressive how the civic traditions underlying the contrasting states of Pakistan and India have evolved to the extent that a Mohammed and a Khan* were fundamentally instrumental in the trashing of Pakistan (not to negate Sachin's accomplishments of course). Observations can be made about the differing characteristics and temperaments of the Pakistani nature in contrast to their Indian counterparts. As once stated, "national characteristics are psychological traits overtly encouraged by cultural mores", one can discern how the proud and individualistic nature of the Pakistani inhibits the emergence of unity (which paradoxically is one of the three tenets underlying the Pakistani nation). Pakistan as a team is quite entertaining with the abrasiveness and aggression as palpable from the swift deliveries of Shoaib Akhtar to the dispute on field between skipper Waqar Younis and his more experience rival, Wasim Akram. The extent to which Islam has permeated the Pakistani psyche is manifested especially when the Pakistanis perennially fail to coalesce into an effective team, with individuals preferring rather to strut their own talents. The egalitarianism underpinning Islamic ethics and culture makes it difficult for Pakistanis to accept the leadership of another, a valid observation when analysing the dismal trend of democratic governance throughout most Muslim nations. Of course there are particular exception when by virtue of strength of character Imran Khan was able to unite the unruly, but talented, lot to win the World Cup in 1992 (there are jarring images from that spectuclar day, which owing to my extreme youth at the time, have left but intense memories). Pakistan is no doubt a talented team, for instance even when losing to England Shoaib Akhtar still managed to break the world record with bowl surpassing a 100 miles per hour, no mean feat, yet they lack the necessary discipline that comes from inspired leadership. When each player jostles for all the spotlight available under the sun (it was interesting the comment made by commentator ante-spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq, that Shoaib Akhtar's talent notwithstanding his desire for self-promotion exceeded the love of the game and if invited as lead commentator would abandon his post even during the middle of the game) it will be difficult for Pakistan to coalesce as an effective team. Pakistan lacks discipline, as integral a prerequisite to victory as talent (which is in abundance) and thus it is rediscovered the trend to losing to India in World Cup matches will continue to the despair of a 140mn Pakis dispersed territorially but united in eager anticipation for their team to speed to victory as they once did so easily in the past. 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 is as politically charged a move as when the English Cricketing Board decided that England would forfeit its match to Zimbabwe. Our national traits at times inhibit our team's brilliance and jade our effervescent gamesmanship. Naturally I nurture the hope that our team will remain true to the quintessence of the Pakistani experience, which is "survivability" and overcoming the odds. Time and time again when the turn of history, political and sporting, presents one too many setbacks our nation overcomes them contrary to the prevailing expectation and sentiment (invariably nursed by neighborly rivals or foreign hegemons) that demands and satiates on our failures. I trust, albeit it maybe a foolish faith, that Pakistan will triumph eventually if it manages to squeak through to the Super Six and it is this hope which motivates me to turn on my television and spend a Saturday afternoon on a cricket match. It may no immediate bearing on my professional or personal life (the nature of causality would suggest that in some way I would be affected eventually) but rather it would inspire me to further continue waxing posts on the trials and tribulations of Pakistan. *Khan, derived from Genghis Khan, is the ubiquitous Pakistani surname, in the same manner Smith is for the English & Wasps, and is particularly associated with the Pathans of the North Western frontier (though surprisingly not as common with their Pushtun kin over the Khyber Pass in the Afghan highlands). As Smiths’ trace their distant patrilineal lineage to Yorkshire, or thereabouts, thus the surname of Khan implies descent from the martial races residing along the banks of the Indus Valley and its tributaries. Further Notes: Pakistan's team is by far one of the most entertaining both on and off the field since the personality dynamics are quite unique and make for a good viewing.