| Font Size |
Former Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman and senior diplomat Shaharyar Khan says before the 1999 series it was winning that mattered and not the skill and art of cricket.
Post-1999 things changed and perhaps for the first time the attitude of fans and players of the two countries underwent a sea change.
"Something had changed in crowd attitudes. Only a few years earlier a Bangalore crowd had whistled and screamed invectives at Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail in an ICC Champions Trophy match and Pakistan boundaries were received in pin-drop silence," he wrote in the book 'Shadows across the playing field' co-authored by former United Nations under-secretary-general Shashi Tharoor.
"The same sullen attitude was true when Indian teams played in Pakistan. I recall being acutely embarrassed when Sachin Tendulkar's brilliant stroke play evoked no appreciation from the spectators," he said.
"But during the 1999 tour, a certain maturity from the crowds witnessing India-Pakistan contests was apparent," he said of the bilateral series held after a gap of 10 years "against the backdrop of acute tension".
"The teams interacted sportingly on field and even the crowd trouble after Tendulkar's run-out at Kolkata was not aimed against the Pakistani team but was essentially a show of frustration," Shaharyar added.
The former PCB boss, born in Bhopal, also recalled the threats Pakistan team received from protesters who were against the revival of cricketing ties between the two countries.
"The game was on, with the establishment against the marauding agitators who had even threatened to let loose poisonous snakes into the Pakistan dressing room!"
The 75-year-old ex-armyman said a new benchmark in public relations was achieved through friendly cricket series between the two countries.
"Perhaps one small incident encapsulated the entire syndrome of the friendship series. At Lahore, Inzamam(-ul Haq) was batting and played a ball to point where (Anil) Kumble fielded and flung the ball hard towards the 'keeper, except that the throw was a little off the mark and missed Inzamam's nose by a whisker. Inzamam turned angrily towards Kumble and heated words were exchanged between the two.”
"The incident sent a chill down my spine... but at close, Inzamam and Kumble walked smiling arm-in-arm, the heated exchange forgiven and forgotten. This was the response of two mature and responsible cricketers (so as not to mar the goodwill achieved during the entire 2004 series)," he wrote.
Although post-Mumbai terror attacks there is no bilateral series proposed between India and Pakistan in the new Future Tours Programme, Shaharyar is hopeful that cricket will soon resume between the neighbours.
"It's often been a case of two steps forward and one (or two) steps back in the peace process. The Mumbai terrorist attack must be seen as part of the same syndrome. I am convinced that cricket will again provide the catalyst to bring about harmony, tolerance and good neighbourly relations between the two countries," he concluded.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
No more Pakistani cricket players in Mumbai or for that matter in India EVER. Mumbai attack was the last nail in the coffin between our relations. Now inspite of our history before the British Raj I can confidently say that we Indians were NEVER AND WILL NEVER BE related to Pakistan on any matters. The only way we will interact here after is by military means for centuries to come. The only relations we can have with them will be BLOODY relations till death.
Dear All, It would be all to easy to say that what the author here has said is all, well played out PR exercise. We need to realize what we are loosing but being stubborn with OUR positions. Now is the time time, where we can work towards building a better future. Where our kids would play cricket together, rather than being worried sick about the uncertainty lurking towards our east, sit and think for a moment before its even harder to make amends. We simply cant wish away the fact the we share our history and our futures (however much you would want to deny it) the choice is ours the future is our.Best!
They (pakis) have habbit of making stories. Shaharyar Khan wants to sell his book to indian readers nothing else. So don't be emotional towrds this persons statements. Worse he has been part of bloddy paki army. just through his book away
Iam not so sure about this at all since 89 which was Sachin's first series and he was just playing his first match and did not play a big innings India never toured Pakistan till 2004 so what the hell he is talking about? Second instance for sure is not correct because Kumble was the bowler and he threw the ball to the keeper which hit Inzimam who would not have moved even if a truck was heading his way.He was certainly one player who made people think that the golf carts have their place in cricket field as well.A person who does not even remember how an incident happened wants to write a book.Certainly another attempt by him to make it look like that friendship series was all because of his good diplomatic skills but i don't think many would give him that credit.It has been the bigest problem for Pkistan cricket that people like him are given the highest posts while these guys know nothing about cricket.
ANY APPRICIATION FROM ONLY FROM THE SPORT MINDED PERSON WHOALWAYS HAVE BROAD OUTLOOK AND VISION. IN THE GAME OF CRICKETPAKISTAN AND AUSTRALIA ARE TWO COUNTRIES NEVER EVER APPRICI-ATE ANY GOOD DISPLAYS OF THEIR OPPOENTS. SO TENDULKAR'S GAMENEED NOT BE APPRECIATED BY JAUNDICE EYED PAKISTAN
its true if forggot past for last 10 years...but u showed ur true color..we learned lesson..no more crocodile show..now its enough...all how the link between pak criket board and d gang and let etc..so we dnt need any friedship..just dnt involve in indias internam matter..jai hind