R Krishna Das
Defeating India in the cricket field is a different game in Pakistan. And when it won the match in Dubai last night against India, there were a lot of reasons to celebrate in Pakistan that had been reeling under severe domestic crisis.
The Pakistan cricketers delivered from Dubai; giving a reason to the countrymen to smile that they have been desperately waiting for.
India’s neighbour is struggling to keep its house in order. Amidst reports of civil-military rift, the insurgency groups are running amok; a mob daring to head towards the national capital and ‘petrol bomb’.
The country’s economy is in a very bad shape with electricity rates going through the roof, a gas crisis on the horizon and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) further complicating the problem by putting the country in the grey list to stop fiscal aid for allegedly supporting terrorism. Trouble is brewing in neighbouring Afghanistan beyond its expectation after backing and playing a key role in Taliban takeover.
In the midst of all the issues, the win over India has given its denizens an opportunity to forget the troubles of their routine life. Defeating India that too without losing a wicket will remain a big issue in the country for many more months.
Pakistan cricket fans feel now they have won the World Cup match. The actual World Cup does not matter anymore and would be a bonus if it actually is clinched.
Indian Captain Virat Kolhi did not miss to go for a major publicity drive by posing with Pakistani players and hugging them. Actually, Pakistan must officially thank Virat Kohli who failed to recall even former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee has hugged the then Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif. The gesture was responded to months later with Kargil intrusion.
Kohli’s insistence of sticking with Hardik Pandya for reasons unknown instead of picking the in-form Ishan Kishan made little sense, and for which he’d be deservedly disparaged. Win or loss is no doubt part of game and Indians always respected the sportsman spirit. But facing a humiliating defeat and cheering with Pakistan without remorse will certainly hurt the Indian fans at home.
A leading Pakistan daily succinctly puts it, “With apologies to India, Pakistan fans deserved and needed this one much more.”
