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It is a matter of a bat and ball. Eleven men each side, two umpires, three stumps and the second-highest fan following of any sport in the world. Cricket is a sport for the patriots, the dramatic, those hunting for faith and hungry for battle. In 1952, the Pakistan cricket team was established but nobody could have fathomed the antics, hysteria and mayhem that would envelope this team in years to come.
This was a country built on emotion; this is a team built on moments. We have Shahid Afridi with his fastest century, Saqlain Mushtaq with his doosra, Shoaib Akthar's speed, Umar Gul's T20 record and the stats just keep coming. We live for our seconds of glory, that spark of brilliance that brings us to our knees, believing again. In 2013, we are a team with cracked walls and several leakages, a spot-fixing scandal that haunts us and a ban from international cricket at home, which begs me to question: what will be the fate of Pakistan cricket?
It is hard to convince a generation of teenage boys that cricket is relevant to the country. They haven't witnessed matches at home, they cannot relate to the intensity and passion; they have not felt the unity of 30,000 strong intently praying for a win. Little in this world can compete with watching a match live. Walking through the stadium gates, you can feel the energy and mutual respect of cricket lovers who believe in their team. Nothing is impossible on this sacred ground. Miracles have happened, prayers have been answered and ignored, hearts beat, pulses race, and there is a feeling, a connection thousands of people share in that moment that makes you realize just how much this game means to its followers. That is the moment you fall in love with cricket.
Lack of international cricket in Pakistan has meant that the younger generation has been deprived of these moments. They cannot witness their heroes in the flesh. Sachin Tendulkar's talent and Dale Steyn's bowling are lost on them. Cricket is simply a sport for these teenage boys. They long for the day Pakistan is granted hosting rights again but, until then, the interest is beginning to ebb away, other sports are beginning to break ground to fill this void.
Slowly, very silently, a gap is beginning to grow and the obsession is losing its grip. Cricket is a sport that emits hope and can bring light to a situation through moments of glory. It would be a pity to let it go
The spot-fixing scandal of 2010 broke the hearts of cricket lovers the world over. The fact that three Pakistanis were involved in it shattered the nation. It is hard to describe the toll this has taken on the youth of Pakistan. With money becoming such a central part of the game, suspicions run high and match outcomes are often questioned. In the recent past, books and movies have focused on the extent to which gambling has a hold on the sport. How, then, can a 12-year-old boy believe that the collapse or victory of his team wasn't in fact fabricated?
With Pakistanis ousted from the IPL, players ignored for ICC awards, participation questioned in the Champions League and the World Cup taken away, there is a general feeling that we are being left out, excluded from the international arena. Why would we watch a sport and emotionally invest ourselves, only to be shunned time and again? For many in Pakistan, cricket has lost meaning, fans have detached themselves and the once-common blind faith cannot be found.
For as long as I can remember, cricket has been a religion for Pakistanis the world over. The erratic brilliance of the team has us believing that any match can be won no matter how hopeless the situation may seem. This is what has kept millions of dreams alive. There are painted faces and collective screenings and ad campaigns. There are boys and girls of every age desperate to keep the spirit and fervour of the sport alive. In every nook and cranny we have boys playing cricket. In every college there is a cricket team. Every Pakistan and India game has a nation torn by sectarianism suddenly united. But how long can this go on for until we finally lose faith? There is only so long that the younger generation can wistfully view old videos of live matches at the national stadium. It is only a matter of time before these stories get old. Slowly, very silently, a gap is beginning to grow and the obsession that once was is losing its grip. This is a sport that emits hope and can bring light to a situation through moments of glory. It would be a pity to let it go.
Cricket is irreplaceable. It breaks boundaries, builds relationships and for several years now has been the glue for a broken nation. It is a matter of national pride. It is a way to reassure the country's relevance. It is a strategy to re-establish political ties. Such is the power of cricket in Pakistan and few should underestimate it.
I see ragged clothes, dusty plots, and battered balls and makeshift stumps. I see heroic dives and desperate appeals. I see strategies, spectators and young boys scampering on empty roads. I see the culture of night cricket. I see balls being taped and friendships being made. I see an abundance of fast bowlers and a dearth of good batsman. I see the epic collapses and the horror of a loss. I see the impact of a victory. I see a love for cricket.
Feeds: Hadeel Obaid
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Hadeel Obaid
Hadeel Obaid is a patriotic Pakistani and an avid cricket fan with a passion for sports writing. Fresh out of college, she works with her family in the textile industry and has written for blogs and sports websites. Hadeel is loud, energetic, loves to read and lives for good food and a live match at the stadium. Her ultimate dream is to be the first woman chair of the Pakistan Cricket Board one day.
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Pakistan cricket will not die. It cannot die. It will surprise, thrill, shock and frustrate but will eventually survive this unpleasant patch. Infact, it has almost survived this patch thanks to Misbah's brilliant and not-so-fashionable captaincy. I'll also like to add that we should stop talking about the spot-fixing saga and move on. We're past the rebuilding phase and have built a proper team now. We should look towards the future. I have high hopes with this team. Cricket will eventually return to Pakistan sooner or later hopefully. I also agree with Pratik we cannot blame anybody for the position we find ourselves in. Nice article overall.
Pakistan is very important for cricket in many ways. I thank them for helping Afghans so much in cricket. However, and i hate to say it, it is very hard to see any international team playing in Pakistan in the foreseeable future because according to the current situation it is basically risking one's life. We feel for Pakistan, but any concerned Pakistani cricket lover should also think in the shoes of the international players coming to Pakistan. It could be a matter of life and death.
Posted byGrossly exaggerated by the author. The spirit of the people of Pakistan will never die no matter what. These are just difficult times that we face but it doesn't mean we forget who we are.
Posted by Shahnawaz63 on (April 10, 2013, 6:36 GMT)Wait for IMRAN KHAN...He is coming shortly...
Posted by wakaPAK on (April 10, 2013, 6:04 GMT)I think ICC has never tried hard to promote Cricket around the world.... or if they have tried there has been no vision, no plan... Football was once the favorite sports of Afghanis but thanks to Pakistan Cricket is now their heart and soul and that wasn't due to ICC. I have so far seen just one Bollywood movie "Lagaan" with cricket as it's main theme... again..no thanks to ICC! The Documentaries like "Fire in Babylon" and another British Docu about Afghan Cricket... I think none was funded by ICC... My point is that no one really cares about cricket in ICC people there are just old-timers with no vision and no leaders. If pakistan lose Cricket..no big deal but if Cricket lose Pak, it will be a loss. The innovations Pak brought to the game and from a business point of view the drama it brings has always kept cricket interesting. Honestly Ashes has not brought as many fans to cricket grounds as much as Pak-India rivalry. And if India does not play against Pak.....(continued)
Posted byThe author seems to forget what happened to the last international team to visit Pakistan. The problems in your country are far more serious than international cricket. Unless those problems get fixed, the international cricket will not return to Pakistan. It is that simple. In other words it will be a long long time. Hope and pray that your country regains sanity and peace, which is far more important than cricket.
Posted byThe mis management the scandal;s the history of the game in Pakistan the love and passion for the game, where are we now?. Ex players's raja javed imran zaheer asif intikab mustaq et all come back take on the mantle.
Posted byPakistan cricket has alway's had a self destruct button. From match fixing to spot fixing to numerous internal discord among'st plyers and officials,ie beg's the question how has it managed to survive this long.The passion of the people,and the love for the game are historically and culturally still prevalent.Iwould not profess to be an expert but my own experience in growing in england,and playing the game with my peers was a good insight into my cultural heritage and cricket was very much a part of it. I only hope that the enthusiasm,hope and memories of the great players of old Zaheer,Hanif,Imran,Javed,Raja's et all will come again.
Posted byMy name is Pakistan and I am cricket.Not just the part that is pretty and glamorous but also the part that is ugly and pungent.In it resides the the lost art of cricket the way to play the game with passion and fueled by patriotism.It still lingers on the way the game is supposed to be played with flare ,with style and with flamboyance.It defies convention and yet becomes the new normal(reverse swing,doosra).Although it has a scared and burnt face it still shines
Posted byFirstly cricket has never been a religion to Pakistanis. Its just something that has been built up by the media. Yes we do follow it passionately but even when Pakistan could host teams on its home soil not many people went to the stadiums to support the team or watch the Tendulkars and Steyns in TEST matches. The problem for a 12 or 13 year old as I see it is that at the moment they dont have any real superstars to look upto. To be honest the Afridis and the Guls arent really in the same league of cricketers that I grew up watching and the current bunch will either fail to inspire the younger generation or it will give rise another group of mediocre players
Seondly, the PCB admin is itself responsible for the problems that they are currently facing. They need to strengthen themselves financially as well as administratively to be able to dictate their terms to their counterparts. Unless that happens we will continue to be treated like a bag of dirt.
Posted by Pathiyal on (April 9, 2013, 7:55 GMT)misbah ul haq, their current captain, a clean cricketer on and off and younus khan who is already one of my favorite players have been doing a wonderful job for them....if people dont thank them for that here is a million thanks from a humble unbiased cricket lover just across the border :-) wish they both will continue to be in the mainstream even after their playing careers. right now, wishing them all the very best!
Posted by Pathiyal on (April 9, 2013, 7:49 GMT)let alone their legends like zaheer abbas, sarfraz, mudassar, imran khan, javed miandad, wasim akram, waqar, abdul qadir, ejas ahmed, and saqlain, if they have cricketers like they have in their current pack - misbah, ajmal, afridi, hafeez, younus, junaid, gul....their cricket will survive. i dont know where to include mohammad yousuf (i wish to include him in the current lot) amir is also bound to come back. cricket lovers across the globe will miss them if they dont get a chance to watch them. cricket will not die in their country if they have passionate cricketers. for those who have doubts, just see the performance of their under 19 team in the world cup....which saw flashes of brilliance here and there. good sign for them.
Posted byNo Matter What Happens to Pakistan Cricket.... But As a Matter of Fact 'ITS IN OUR BLOOD'.....Its Never gona Die..ATB Pakistan Cricket Team
Posted by riz309 on (April 8, 2013, 22:59 GMT)@Pratik Bhagat Iam so tired from people like you and coming from your background pointing out to us "Not To Blame Others" and where did the writer in this article blamed anyone about Pakistan's problem or the IPL??? why you people take it so negatively and personally Me and many of my country men do like IPL to some extent you might got this impression by someone's personal opinion that "We guy's don't like IPL for obvious reason"that's someone's personal opinion not everybody's. Pakistan just drew a series of T20 in India. Despite all the set backs Pakistan is facing Pakistan has done very well .Mr Obaid cricket in Pakistan is doing well
Posted by saliadnan on (April 8, 2013, 18:47 GMT)Pratik is absolutly right as a pakistani we shuldnt blame others for our own mess and this has become our habit of overlooking own mistakes and blaming others for it.. thats why we havent been able to rectify ourselves. why she didnt fit Imran, Wasim, and waqar in his article? i think this article lacks depth in cricketing knowledge..
Posted by Imran-Akram on (April 8, 2013, 16:09 GMT)Fantastic article portraying the true state of the game in Pakistan.
Posted by Syed_imran_abbas on (April 8, 2013, 15:20 GMT)you spoke our heart man. very good article. cricket is not being governed failry.
Posted byI don't think the spot-fixing scandal was such a big deal. Sure, it was a shocker at first. But the team re-grouped fairly quickly, and so did the fans. We were only happy to go back to being cheerleaders for our team - that's what fans do and will continue to do so. Indulging our irrational selves is just part of the fun; it will take more than a scandal once every 5 years to take away our escapist route. -----
Pakistani players were not ignored for the ICC Awards. Ajmal was shortlisted but didn't make it. I don't understand the big deal - there were many contenders and just the one winner. Besides him, is there anyone else who had a legit claim to being the best batsman / bowler in the world? Mohd. Hafeez is a good T20 all-rounder but that's it. And he didn't start batting well in the format until recently.
Posted byI disagree that young kids cannot understand the passion behind the game just because they haven't witnessed a live match. While I appreciate the lure of live games (I've watched a few thrilling games at the National Stadium), cricket is still very much a part of our culture.
Kids may not be watching live matches, but they see distant relatives bonding over it; friends betting on it; plans revolving around cricket games and so on.
I find it hard to get away from cricket when I'm in Pakistan. And if the fever has died down a bit over the past decade or so; it has more to do with alternative mediums that provide instant-gratification more than an Afridi six. And I suppose the team's lack of success would also have something to do with it.
I probably only saw live cricket once before I turned 11, but that did not stop me from becoming a passionate fan during those early years.
Posted byNice article but not evenly balanced . The whole cricketing world likes Pakistani team because of their unpredictably and raw talent . But please don't blame other countries for their isolation . Pakistan as a country is responsible for that . And why blaming IPL even you guys don't like that isn't it ( for the obvious reasons ) ? ATB Pakistan Cricket team .
Posted by Harlequin. on (April 8, 2013, 12:23 GMT)Nice article. Pakistan are a great team to watch; despite being marred in controversy, I thought the 2010 tour of England was a fascinating contest with two sets of top-class swing bowlers showing their tricks. In terms of natural talent, Pakistani bowlers are quite simply the best in the world, and so long as they keep churning out Ajmals, Guls, Afridis and Amirs (ahem!), then people will turn up to watch. It may be a while before those running the ICC are stripped of their prejudice/political agendas and Pakistan are allowed equal footing once again, but every injustice pilled upon them only serves to magnify their achievements.