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Can Dhoni wish Pakistan luck and be let off?

WRITE HAND BY AJAZ UL HAQUE

Shahid Afridi, though could not pull off a miracle in the World Cup, but did leave some pleasant impressions as a sportsman. By wishing India luck in the finals, (which incidentally received an instant sanction from the stars above), he went a step ahead. Earlier also he behaved like a thorough professional cricketer than a frantic India-basher. Unlike a slogan-selling politician who earns his popularity by arousing patriotic passions, his approach to the game was clean and gentlemanly. In the beginning of the tournament, Afridi was asked as to which country will he love to see win the World Cup, in case he does not do it himself. `India' was his instant response. Considering the euphoria the game is known to create and keeping in view the public emotion coupled with the sub-continental politics of animosity, for a Pakistani cricketer it was a big statement to make and a bigger risk to reap the bitter of. Though in a narrow nationalistic sense, this goodwill may sound a bit more than needed, but in a larger paradigm of sportsmanship it sends a lovely message. Politically the statement may not be correct, but politics must not determine the temper and the temperament of a player. By doing so, he must have hurt a few back home, but the gesture, by all means, was heart-winning for the rest. Such behaviour makes us see game as a game and helps reduce the level of anxiety attached to it. 
Here what genuinely disturbs an independent observer is the comparative levels of tolerance. Pakistan, the territory at present known for massacre and manslaughter, symbolises intolerance. That is what the general perception about Pakistan goes and not without a reason. On the contrary, India presents a model of accommodation, which in many respects it indubitably does. But the contrast here offers a twist in the story. Presume a Dhoni wishing Pakistan luck and then the rest can be imagined. We can't forget the uproar created by a single Shahrukh Khan statement last year whereby he had expressed a desire to include Pakistani players in the IPL. Mumbai erupted in rage. Though Shiv Seniks couldn't find much support to their call against SRK starrer My Name is Khan., nevertheless they did succeed in causing some disquiet. Since the statement was made by an Indian Muslim and it happened to be in favour of Pakistani players – that was reason enough for a group of hate-mongers to sell panic. Going by the same measure, Afridi's statement should have flared up passions on the other side of the border. A demonized and dehumanized Pakistan (although done so for the faults of her own) in this particular respect outplayed their arch rivals in tolerance and accommodation. 
Though emotions can't be given a diversion, but they can be kept from becoming a delirium. That is what Shahid Afridi did. Or may be tried to do. That is what last year SRK did and saw mobs on the streets of Mumbai. 

Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST



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