On The semi finals and some Indo-Pak bonding….

Cricket is a pressure game, and when it comes to an India-Pakistan match the pressure is doubled.


I so related to the above statement while watching Cricket in India (and not only because it came from one of my favourite cricketers, Imran Khan) but, not anymore.

I am sure, most of you would have watched the match yesterday, but surely, not many of you would have watched it with a Pakistani present? Well, I did and thought it was something worth snippeting about.

My hubby is out of town this whole week and I was resigned to watching it all alone when my dear friend L invited me for cricket and dinner at her place, an offer I joyously accepted, for doesn’t this particular match warrant boisterous company?

There were ten of us Indians against the sole Pakistani. As soon as I entered, he introduced himself with a "Hi, I am Mallik, a Pakistani…..Kashmir hamaara hai (and looking at my stunned expression at this he burst into laughter) but whatever….meet my wife Simran, an Indian…. Hamaara ghar mein bhi roz Indo Pak war chaltha hai!" I liked this "easy to talk" attitude immediately. They were a very good looking couple, teasing each other mercilessly whenever our batsmen scored or we won wickets. Poor guy had to take a lot of leg pulling from all of us but he took it so sportingly and kept quoting SRK from some movie "Show ab bhi bhaaki hai dosthon, you never know…cricket is anyone's game till the end … remember the days of Miandad and Zaheer Abbas and how they scored in the last over?", and would get shushed by all of us.

Of course, kudos to our Indian team for giving us a wonderful win. It would have been perfect if Sachin had got his hundredth hundred, but being the optimist that I am, I take it that he is destined to make it in his hometown, that too in the finals, and thereby enjoy all the special adulation and celebration that goes along with it. We were sporting enough to go "Awwwwww…how sad" when Afridi said he was feeling bad that he couldn’t take the cup for his country.

The Paki also happened to mention that the modern young generation there were of the opinion that we would have been one great nation, if only we had stuck together and not split up. That was news to me. They had lots of stories to tell about Imran Khan, just to tease me when I said that he had been one of my crushes. In short, I had the most wonderful time, and with perfect timing my hubby texted me the moment India won. I was so glad that he too had managed to watch.

Now, we have decided to watch the finals at my Sri Lankan friend’s place. After all, if everything works as per our plans, I will be back in India by the next World Cup, and will never ever get a chance again to enjoy the same with friends from our neighbouring countries.

For the first time in ten years I enjoyed cricket here just as I would back home. There we would all cheer our team and simultaneously put down our opponents (more so if they happen to be Pakistan). But here it was like meeting our next door neighbours in one common alien country. Perhaps that’s what brings out the kindness and generosity of spirit that is inherent in all human beings and we are at our best behaviour …even if it is at a high voltage World Cup semifinal clash between India and Pakistan.

 

dear satchi,

you are absolutely right satchi. this is my second exp with a Paki. the other one was in florida almost 15 years back. It so happened that me and a Paki guy used to take our respective kids for swimming daily evening at the pool in the condo. and he used to say that all this india Pak dushmani was over hyped... after all we are of the same colour and race.
But in his case I used to wonder why we never saw his wife ..whether she was not allowed to come out more often..of course my over imagination working unnecessarily ,perhaps :biglaugh

 

hi spidey,

Yes they were a real cute couple ..she is an indian muslim and he a Paki muslim apparently.Some years back she was the only one watching the match with many pakis in karachi and so now she was having her revenge on him with all our support, it seems.:biglaugh

Jinnah and Nehru (and Karamchand G.) did many mistakes, otherwise who knows - it may have been possible to avoid the partition. Anyway, whats done is done.

True but sometimes sad, nah? if you happen to think deeply baout it?


Really happy that India won :cheers When Afridi wicket fell, as soon as Sehwag caught it, I was leaping in joy - as I thought that was the last hurdle. I knew Misbah still around, but he was not a big threat when the reqd.run-rate is climbing steeply.

yeah it was nice to see that there were no boundaries hit by them for a long time. but that guy who did hit 2 sixes..Akmal( i always get his name as Aklam, LOL) it was great when Bhaji got his wicket...and yuvaraj too as if making up for going out with a zero.


Wow, you'll be back in India before next WC! That is AWESOME :thumbsup Best wishes for that to happen smoothly.

Thank you !! Insha Allah willing, what Say? LOL.

Yeah you can pm me the joke and what is it about Sachin and hundreds? really??? I would be interested. since it is his last world cup, I want him to fulfill his childhood dream of taking the cup back home and since it is in Mumbai get his hundredth 100 too.Keeping my fingers crossed ))

 

hi Shree mole,

good to see you in snippets. after a really long time.


Maybe you should wear a blue and yellow dress when you go to your friends place to watch the finals.


okay maybe I will make that a blue saree ..after all our national dress and all, what say. LOL.

Lets hope Sachin does get his 100th 100. But you know there is this superstitious belief that whenver Sachin hits a 100, we lose! .......I hope that does not happen this time. It will be fantastic when India wins on Saturday and Sachin scores his 100 too. what a way to celebrate.......mmmm...fingers crossed.

yeah I logged on again hoping to read more on that superstition.Yessss, fingers crossed here too.:cheers