Sports is the only ‘war’ human civilisation should actually be passionate about. However, the reality of this unjust world that we live in is different. Recently, a storm-in-a-teacup incident was blown out of epic proportions by Pakistanis and by those who are Pakistanis by conviction but are unfortunately Indian citizens. During the ongoing World Cup, an India-Pakistan match took place on 14 October at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, which is the world’s largest cricket stadium. India comprehensively defeated Pakistan.
Pakistani fans, reeling from the defeat, decided to focus on a passionate moment when spectators on the ground greeted their wicket-keeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans. Pakistanis, Leftists and Islamists in India immediately got down to business. They targeted the entire state of Gujarat and then India for what they claimed was an outrageous religious jibe made at the poor victim, Rizwan.
A religious mission
The fact was disregarded that Rizwan is frequently spotted praying on the cricket field, such as during a T20 World Cup 2021 India-Pakistan match in Dubai, where his team won. While it is possible that his prayers were not aimed at the Hindu-majority Indian team, it’s worth noting that Pakistan’s former cricketer Waqar Younis expressed joy that Rizwan prayed ‘in front of Hindus’. Younis found it ‘special’. The global public’s reaction was so intense and rightly so that Vicky, as Younis is fondly known, found himself compelled to extend an apology for letting the excitement of the moment sweep him away. It seems the fervour of the match stirred emotions beyond the boundary lines, prompting a response that he later felt the need to reconcile.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In that same T20 World Cup match, a Pakistani presenter Bazid Khan, casually told Pakistan team captain Babar Azam, “Kufr toot gaya”, which was interpreted as ‘idolatry being shattered’ by many fans. The nonchalant nature of such discussions in their country was evident as Azam responded with a smile, acknowledging that it was indeed over.
But the story doesn’t end there. Consider the instances of everyday bigotry against Hindus normalised by the who’s who of Pakistan cricket. It’s disconcerting how the team, as a whole, struggles to separate their sport from religious sentiments. It’s almost unclear whether they’re playing a game or pursuing a religious mission.
Take a glance at a few statements made by Pakistani cricketers:
- In 1978, Mushtaq Mohammed, then captain of the Pakistan cricket team, called Pakistan’s test series win against India a “victory of Muslims worldwide over Hindus.”
- Former cricketer Shahid Afridi made headlines for boasting about smashing a TV upon witnessing his daughter perform the “aarti.”
- Shoaib Akhtar explained the concept of Ghazwa-e-Hind and said that “we will first capture Kashmir and then invade India.”
- “If Muslims show their Muslim-ism, not one human on earth will remain non-Muslim,” said former captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Also read: We are cricket-crazy and partisan, not Nazis. Stop demonising Gujarat crowd
Game and religion
Upon closer examination, the animosity towards Hinduism and India among Pakistani players becomes glaring. It runs so deep that former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan was hit by an iron nail during India’s tour of Pakistan. Remarkably, he chose not to harbour resentment or generalise the entire nation for the actions of a few. The inclination to intertwine religion with sports appears to be a longstanding habit. Rizwan recently dedicated of his match-winning performance in Hyderabad to Gaza. It further highlights the trend. In an ideal scenario, one might expect him to dedicate his win to the war-struck children of both Israel and Gaza to foster unity.
Rizwan chose a side, introducing a religious and political conflict into the realm of sports. The crowd in Ahmedabad responded to this, expressing their sentiments towards Rizwan’s consistent politicisation of religion.In an ideal world, both Rizwan and that crowd has the right to paint the world with their thought. Either Rizwan or the crowd, should be asked to not express their respective religious feelings, or both should be allowed, and we should get on with it.
Have you ever witnessed an Indian cricketer, representing the nation at the highest international level, stoop to attacking another player’s faith or exploiting their profession to propagate conversion? Such a stance carries with it a dismissive tone, implicitly branding the other player’s faith as inferior and flawed. And it’s not just confined to India; even in other international cricket teams, such as Afghanistan, this sort of behaviour is notably absent. Afghan cricketers get a warm reception from Indian cricket fans.
Hence, those who argued that there is Islamophobia and hatred behind the chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’ should take a look at the New Delhi cricket match between India and Afghanistan. The celebration of Afghani team’s Rashid Khan and the genuine love he received from Indians, as the crowd cheered for him, is a testament to how India embraces him as one of its own sons.
I refrain from naming over 100 Muslim players who have played for the Indian cricket team as doing so would be a sign of disrespect for the nation. This is in stark contrast to a neighbouring State where even the rarest of rare cases, such as Hindu cricketer Danish Kaneria, face relentless targeting for their faith by their team members on a daily basis.
Let’s maintain a balanced perspective and assess things objectively, without letting Leftists and Communists guilt-trip the average Indian.
Sorry Pakistan, I am not sorry.
Amana Begam Ansari is a columnist and TV news panelist. She runs a weekly YouTube show called ‘India This Week by Amana and Khalid’. She tweets @Amana_Ansari. Views are personal.
(Edited by Ratan Priya)