We grew up with the comforting thought that cricket was a gentleman's game. But gentlemen do shake hands, don't they?
Business rivals finalize a deal after weeks of tough negotiations, but manage a handshake in the end. Politicians smile and shake hands for the cameras, after exchanging 'pleasantries' in a debate. Cricketers from Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, West Indies, line up and shake hands after 5 long days of sledging and staring. They don't need diplomatic clearance or policy briefing to do so. A handshake is a natural act of respect and civility towards each other.
Suddenly, in certain contests in our part of the world, a simple sportsmanly act of a handshake has turned into a topic of national intrigue. Will they, won't they?
If SKY smiled at his rival captain, how broad was his smile? Was it warm or cold? Why did Rohit Sharma hug Wasim Akram? Did the hug or smile make a geopolitical statement? Or is it likely to trigger the respective envoys to issue a note verbale?
In the eighties and nineties, the Pakistani legends like Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus, Javed Miandad and Shoaib Akhtar, struck fear in the hearts of opponents. Yet the battle was fought between the two ends of 22 yards and within the boundary ropes. When they stepped out, they were human beings. There were no hashtags, no memes and no mockery on social media when either team lost.
Today when Babar Azam fails, he is on public trial. His greatness and records are forgotten. When Salman Ali Agha speaks at a press conference in his second language, his accent is ridiculed. The content of what he said is lost in the mockery of how he said it. Sport is a test of skill and grit. It is not meant to be a stage for linguistic elitism. Since when did eloquence in English become a yardstick for cricketing proficiency?
When the players walk into the field, flexing their muscles and swinging their bats, they carry on those young shoulders, the expectations of a nation, scrutiny of their form, pressure of national pride, uncertainty of selection, fitness, personal problems, mental fatigue and what not!. The weight of all these factors are of a scale that many of us cannot perceive, let alone experience.
In January 1999, India suffered a heartbreaking 12 run loss to Pakistan in a test match at Chepauk, Chennai, despite a heroic century by Sachin Tendulkar. Yet the spectators gave the Pakistani cricketers a standing ovation on their victory lap. That was a shining example of sportsmanship.
Loss in a sporting encounter is not a disaster. Every great team has lost and every great player has failed. Loss of empathy and dignity is a disaster.
Cricket will survive. We hope stories will be written about the cheering fans in the stands, and the bonhomie between rival players after a gentle handshake.
Auction rooms and television rights maybe inevitable as the world moves on, but cricket will remain beautiful and worthy of its epithet, " the gentleman's game" only if old values return.
Latha Raghuram.
2 comments:
Extraneous issues are taking front stage, pushing cricket to the background. Unfortunate indeed. But these are the signs of changing times. Well brought out!
Blogspots are now coming out like an annual mango crop. They may not come like the daily morning milk, butcan come atleast as a monthly salary!
I read what you have posted. It is absolutely relevant. You have spoken from the depth of the heart. Your passion for the game and the need to nurture gentlemanship is evidently seen. As a cricketer and a fan of Indian cricket, I endorse your views.
There were Players in Inzy who used to speak in his Mother tongue during post match presentation. Umesh Yadav and so many other players do the same. Nothing wrong in it.
Winning and losing are part of the game. The spirit of the game should not be spoiled by jingoistic and euphoric theatrics.
Hats off to Indian cricket team for the way they are playing especially against Pak, our arch rivals.
Let us also extend the courtesies that we are known for.
DIWAKAR
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