Bangladeshis Support for Pakistan's Cricket Team
sidrahzaheer Karachi, Pakistan1 year ago.
Yesterday, history was made again when on such a significant date in Pakistan's history as March 23, the former East Pakistan showed its completely enthusiastic support for Pakistan's Cricket Team playing against the West Indies at Mirpur, Bangladesh. The support shown was not at any level less than the one Bengalis showed when the Pakistan Resolution was passed at the Minto Park, Lahore in 1940, almost 71 years ago. Now the place called Iqbal Park has a tall minaret, called Minar-e-Pakistan, built in commemoration of that day and has a status of being a National Tower of Pakistan. Even though, the nascent Bangladeshâs Cricket Team is no more part of the tournament having lost qualification into the quarter-finals, the age-old cricket fans from Bangladesh demonstrated full support for their Pakistani brothers on the field proving many politicians and social scientists, who are pessimistic about the two statesâ relations, as having been wrong about the two nations mood.
There is no ill-will from the peopleâs side and this is all that matters in the long run. The breaking of Pakistan due to Bengali nationalism has left its negative scar upon the history and the people of both the countries, but it is never too late to bury the hatchet and find new grounds to grow stronger and deeper ties. The support shown by the Bangladeshi crowds at the stadium has, therefore, a special essence to it, as it negates the notion that Pakistan is not liked by their Bengali brothers or vice versa. The reality of the situation proved to be otherwise when last checked just yesterday at the stadium.
Playing cricket on the Shere Bangla National Stadium of Mirpur was like playing at a home venue because of the warmth shown by the huge hearted Bangladeshi people. There revenge against the West Indies was taken aptly by the Pakistanâs Cricket Team when they beat it by a huge margin. Even the revenge had a two edged sword. What better opponents to defeat than the West Indies Cricket Team who won by 10 wickets against Pakistan during the 1992 Cricket World Cup preliminary round match in Melbourne, Australia. This date will from now have two significances for Pakistan, one of course from its historical point of view and the other in its cricketing history, as Pakistanâs recent victory against the West Indies settles the score equal. Pakistan won marvelously by 10 wickets stepping into the semi-finals.
The Pakistani cricket commentators already predicted the environment of high spirits from the Bangladeshi side for the Pakistanâs Cricket Team. The feelings from the Pakistani side were appropriately conveyed by the Man of the Match, Muhammad Hafeez, who thanked the spectators for their tremendous backing and joy seeing Pakistanâs victory of the game. We as Pakistanis will always be thankful to the Bangladeshis for their love and generosity in treating us with such compassion. We will never forget this day and look forward to a time when we will get a chance of expressing our support for the Bangladeshi Cricket team playing against any opponent in our home ground. I am sure they too will not feel out of touch when playing here in Pakistan. Here is wishing that may the hearts of these two brotherly nations always remain open and warm for each other, not just in cricket grounds, but also outside of the sporting arenas.
