India Pakistan Classic scenes

Some Pictures of Indo-Pak cricket that are etched in every fan's mind.

• Miandad's Last ball Six of Chetan Chauhan in 1986 Sharjah final that brought despair & smiles

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• Miandad's frog jump in 1992 World Cup

• Aamir Sohail Send off by Venkatesh Prasad - Prasad had the last laugh
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• 2003 world Cup: Centurion

• 2007 T20 world Cup

• Harbhajan's heroics in Asia Cup 2010

• World Cup Semifinal 2011

• Afridi weaves his magic in Asia Cup 2014

Cricket would never have been the same if not for the spectators and there is no point of India-Pakistan match without giving the spectators their true worth. 

So here it is for the every single fan out there. 

India vs Pakistan Classics

With the never-ending political upheavals taking a front seat in the Indo-Pak relations, the joy of India Pakistan matches have been restricted to your birthday falling in a leap year. It’s simply quite amazing to see that same level of bustling energy and enthusiasm over generations being maintained and going strong. If anything, the negativity and acrimony amongst fans on both sides have given way to excitement and respect for each other. Every difference- gender, age, economic- present in the Indian society is asked to take a backstage, with cricket taking the centre stage. To see that bubbling enthusiasm at home and observing the actions being matched step-by-step by our brothers closer home in the neighboring land of Pakistan proves the magnanimity of the event involved. Add to it the flavor of World Cup and we have got an exciting talent given the grandest stage to perform and show the world their mettle.

Characters have evolved from such high-pressure encounters. The sight of Miandad frog-jumping in front of Kiran More in that 92 World Cup lit up the otherwise unexpected dim atmosphere. Venkatesh prasad’s famous send-off to Aamir Sohail in that 96 World cup is a sight to behold. Tendulkar tearing apart the trio of Akram, Akhtar and Waqar in Centurion have mesmerized many. The sight of a despondent Misbah after getting caught trying to scoop in that T20 World cup final is etched in the memory of everybody’s mind.

The game has become richer for spectators by being given the opportunity to witness players involved in such grueling intensity and high-pressure situations talk it out many years down the line in the commentary box. The game reaches  to a very different level when we have Ganguly and Akram talking about 2003 or Ravi Shastri and Rameez Raza talking about their times. Getting to know some wonderful insights about why Shoaib’s pace used to drop slightly with Dravid at the crease makes you go back down the memory lanes and relive those moments of joy. Few years down the line, it will be fascinating to see Dhoni have a chat with Misbah on air about the strategy behind giving Joginder Sharma that last over in that famous Indian Win in 2007. Moving forward a decade, if things go well, we might be able to see Kohli and Akmal making their feelings known on air in an Indo-Pak match in Australia with Johnson being the mediator in the Commentary Box. Everybody loves a romantic story and Indo-Pak matches give us a glimpse of that every time these two nations play. These are some of the reasons that have kept the passion and excitement going.

With political tensions not ceasing anytime soon, the opportunities to live these moments have reduced. But whenever presented, everybody has grabbed the associated joys with both hands. It’s in human nature to present them every single opportunity to please themselves and I might be correct when I say that many an Indo-Pak moments will be part of that.

However, to look at the silver lining, with matches being conducted not so regularly, it might have given the perfect break to make this contest alive every single time it is staged. No matter which team wins, the game of Cricket will always be a winner and the sheer joy associated with the event will give our lives moments to cherish.  

The game has given immense opportunities to bring together the two Asian countries to help them realize their full potential, not restricted to the game of Cricket alone. The project that was started to bring peace by using Cricket as the tool can go a long way in improving the relationships. Let's hope that someday we are mature enough to understand that

    

An Unconventional take

The movie “PK” correctly depicted the blasphemies being conducted in the name of religion everyday in today’s world. The presence of self-styled god men commanding authority over nothing but naïve followers has become a pressing issue of late. The movie did great in trying to erode the influence of these cheaters by using the medium integral to the lifestyles of “almost” everyone. People needed to be made aware and the crew of the film did a great job in spreading the message.

However, few of the messages weren't showed in the true light and their alternative approach surely made sense to me.

“Jo darta hai woh mandir jata hai”: Those who are fearful go to temples. This statement doesn’t find resonance with everybody.

“A state has rules for its effective administration and imposes certain restrictions on its citizens so as to avoid anarchy. People following the rules and regulations are civilized people and not fearful. Just as a state defines standards for the community, religion can be thought of as a vehicle to maintain personal standards. If only, people could be made to understand that demanding things by doing certain rituals and practices (give and take) can never be the essence of religion. Let’s leave such attitude for our daily mundane transactions and jobs. People love their father, mother, wife, children etc. Why is it wrong for someone to love God? When there is love for someone, there is no thinking of returns for our actions. Some people like to see their relationship that way, as a loving exchange and not just a transaction to satisfy others' desires.

As a society, we take pride in assimilating differences. Where does that rational mind go when we are out there despising those that try to follow their beliefs? It’s up to us that we don’t like to follow such things and rituals; fair enough, but that doesn't give us the rights to mock somebody else’s beliefs. US President Obama might be right about the religious intolerance increasing in India. 

  

This is one way through which religion can be looked upon. If religion shows the path of austerity, mercy and truthfulness, then surely we need it in our lives for a better tomorrow. The present day divisions of Hindu, Muslims, Christians etc. are not the true face of religion, it never was. It has been created by some power hungry people for their own benefits and sooner or later people will understand their trickery. Men like Asaram & Rampal have already fallen from grace and these should be enough proof for anyone to stay away from such thugs.”

Not being someone with a religious bent of mind, the explanations certainly helped in looking things with a different perspective. The time might have come to change the glasses with which the world is being seen or maybe get rid of the glass altogether.