New Delhi: There is rage and conspiracy theories on Pakistani social media after New Zealand cricket board called off the tour citing “security threat” minutes before the first one-day international match in Rawalpindi Friday afternoon.
Frome fans to former players to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials, everyone directed their anger either towards New Zealand for depriving them of a potentially competitive limited overs series, or towards India or the West for allegedly influencing New Zealand’s last-minute decision. Some social media users including from India, however, engaged in casual bigotry, in the form of jokes and memes.
Solidarity and ridicule
An artwork by a Pakistani graphic designer Atif Ullah simply called it “The Betrayal”.
THE BETRAYAL#PAKvNZ #Pakistan #PakistanZindabad #blackcaps #Kiwi #Cricket #Rawalpindi #ODI #BackStab https://t.co/UpNbMJ23LP pic.twitter.com/3xwS1mnoJE
— Atif Ullah (@atifullahgfx) September 17, 2021
Pakistani fan Abdullah Neaz, for instance, referenced a line by Arshad Warsi’s character Circuit from the Munnabhai films to poke fun at the last-minute nature of New Zealand’s cancellation.
Pakistan vs New Zealand series ⬇️#PAKvNZ #PAKvsNZ #NZvPAK #NZvsPAK #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/xXDyYU124F
— ABDULLAH NEAZ (@AbdullahNeaz) September 17, 2021
Another user posted a meme from Priyadarshan’s 2006 comedy film Bhagam Bhag, imagining Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan hurling a jibe at New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern for pulling out of the tour.
Imran Khan to NZ PM Jacinda Ardern: pic.twitter.com/DZct4fl86Z
— رومانا (@RomanaRaza) September 17, 2021
A Pakistani account posted a meme from Kaun Banega Crorepati while mocking New Zealand’s “security threat” argument.
NZ player: *Hears a firecracker go off*
Their whole team to Pakistan: pic.twitter.com/WYDpz6ELGj
— Memes of Pakistan (@MemesOfPakistan) September 17, 2021
User Muhammad Faheem reflected on the flipping of views of Pakistani cricket fans towards New Zealand, in light of the situation
Condition right now :#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/um7c23t8tY
— Muhammad Faheem (@Faheem_Malik786) September 17, 2021
An anonymous Indian user’s bigoted tweet made light of past terrorist attacks in Pakistan by posting a meme from the 2007 comedy film Dhamaal.
Picture says every thing ? #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/gSSu0ktT12
— Nanga daaku (@nangadaku43) September 17, 2021
Another centred their ‘joke’ on Jacinda Ardern’s wearing of a headscarf, and termed it as her “solidarity” to the Pakistan team.
NZ PM showing solidarity with Pakistan Cricket Team?? pic.twitter.com/cRKKeJPAIr
— Ayushi Agarwal (@iiiushiii) September 17, 2021
Facebook groups like the Pakistan Cricket Memes Club also had plenty of materials to work with.
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Beyond the memes
Led by wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham, the New Zealand men’s team had arrived in Pakistan for a full limited overs tour of three ODI and five Twenty20 internationals to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore, respectively.
However, neither team showed up to the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday afternoon for the first ODI and just minutes before the scheduled toss, the entire tour was cancelled due to an alleged “security threat” flagged by the New Zealand government.
“…following an escalation in the New Zealand Government threat levels for Pakistan, and advice from NZC security advisors on the ground, it has been decided the BLACKCAPS will not continue with the tour,” New Zealand Cricket said in a statement, and added that it would “not comment on the details of the security threat nor the updated arrangements for the departing squad.”
On the other hand, Pakistan’s response was swift and damning, with the PCB insisting that the security arrangements were “fool proof” and lamented New Zealand’s “unilateral” decision.
Earlier today, the New Zealand cricket board informed us that they had been alerted to some security alert and have unilaterally decided to postpone the series.
PCB and Govt of Pakistan made fool proof security arrangements for all visiting teams. 1/4
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 17, 2021
PCB chairman Ramiz Raja went one step further, questioning “which world” New Zealand is living in, and threatened to take the issue up with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Crazy day it has been! Feel so sorry for the fans and our players. Walking out of the tour by taking a unilateral approach on a security threat is very frustrating. Especially when it’s not shared!! Which world is NZ living in??NZ will hear us at ICC.
— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) September 17, 2021
Pakistan’s sentiments were shared by current members of the Pakistan men’s squad and several ex-players and commentators, whose thoughts were also reposted by the PCB.
What they are saying! #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/6fSiQF8MqZ
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 17, 2021
Renowned commentator @MikeHaysman expresses his disappointment at New Zealand's unfortunate decision to call off their tour of Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/CJMUh3NQ03
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 17, 2021
Thoughts with you and all cricket fans @iramizraja at this decision mate. You and all fans deserve full disclosure on this matter from NZC or how ever can the relationship move forward. #sad #cricket #pakistan #hurting
— Simon Doull (@Sdoull) September 17, 2021
Others like Australian blogger Dennis Freedman, who has a significant fan following in Pakistan, drew both praise and ire from Pakistanis, as he first declared Pakistan as one of the safest countries he has travelled to, and later urged Pakistanis to not post hate against New Zealanders.
I've travelled to over 60 countries.
Pakistan was one of the safest
— Dennis (@DennisCricket_) September 17, 2021
Pakistanis listen up.
Don't throw hate at the Kiwis.
They were put in a position they ultimately weren't comfortable with and made a difficult call. Their lens isn't the same as your lens.
Remember they made the effort to travel in the first place.
— Dennis (@DennisCricket_) September 17, 2021
(Edited by Prashant)