Sweet as the final victory
For India and Indians everywhere, this semifinal victory over Pakistan would undoubtedly be as sweet as winning the coveted World Cup that has eluded them since 1983.
Will India win it tomorrow? This is one of those days at the editorial desk when a deadline has to be met and the issue has to be sent to the press before a major event happens.
There are two things one can do – indulge in all sorts of speculation and analyses to come up none the wiser about the projected result in a game as uncertain as cricket, or quote someone like Paul the Octopus, who can’t fight back if you blame them when their prediction goes pear shaped.
But let us look at Wednesday’s victory and why not just the victory but the very contest was so important for the region and the world.
The semi final match at Mohali could have gone either way, given its total of 260 and an extremely capable but – in India’s favour – inconsistent and unpredictable Pakistani side.
There will always be those who would say that India could have won it in a far more convincing fashion, especially following the swashbuckling start that the flamboyant stroke play of Virender Sehwag gave the Indian innings.
But then, what the heck: a victory is a victory is a victory – even it is whisker thin.
And that is all that has mattered to India and a billion and more Indians around the world, who had their hearts in their mouths as the two subcontinental titans sparred out there in the middle – a mega spectacle like no other anywhere in the world.
As well as the more than a billion pairs of eyes all over the globe that watched every move around that 22-yard strip in the centre of the ground, there is always great interest around the world when these two nuclear neighbours play in a sporting arena, especially one as highly strung as cricket – everyone sits up and takes notice – and for all sorts of reasons that go far beyond the pale of sport.
Whether a political gimmick or genuine gesture, the Indian Prime Minister’s invitation to his Pakistani counterpart and the latter’s acceptance, along with an entourage of 50 officials – and the resultant sense of bonhomie that has emerged that has been termed cricket diplomacy has been viewed positively around the world and drawn praise from all quarters.
US ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer said, “We commend the leaders of both countries for carrying forward with what the media is calling cricket diplomacy. India and Pakistan will take the talks forward at their own pace, ability and character.
“Continued dialogue, combined with cricket diplomacy, expanding people-to-people ties and enthusiasm and optimism on both sides, offers promise of a more prosperous and peaceful region.”
The bonhomie and the spirit that the two teams played with belied the impression of extreme hostility between the nations that is widely conveyed by the media while covering relations between the two countries. The kind of aggression and sledging one sees when other supposedly far “friendlier” countries play one another was conspicuous by its absence.
Which is to the credit to the players, captains, coaches and managements of both sides.
Whether one likes it or not, the two countries are joined at the hip and those ties remain no matter that a perceptibly hostile relationship has permeated most of the years of their existence as independent nations.
The spirit of sportsmanship displayed on the field and the attempt at sensible statesmanship off the field by the top leaders of the two nations was indeed a welcome step – and there is no doubt that this game will go some way in providing an impetus to better the relationship between the two countries.
For India it was indeed an all-important win and traditionally and culturally, the Indian ethos is wont to show exemplary generosity in its moment of victory. Perhaps this is one such time to show a little of that spirit in the world beyond the willow and the wicket.
For India and Indians everywhere, this semifinal victory over Pakistan would undoubtedly be as sweet as winning the coveted World Cup that has eluded them since 1983.
Will India win it tomorrow? This is one of those days at the editorial desk when a deadline has to be met and the issue has to be...
For India and Indians everywhere, this semifinal victory over Pakistan would undoubtedly be as sweet as winning the coveted World Cup that has eluded them since 1983.
Will India win it tomorrow? This is one of those days at the editorial desk when a deadline has to be met and the issue has to be sent to the press before a major event happens.
There are two things one can do – indulge in all sorts of speculation and analyses to come up none the wiser about the projected result in a game as uncertain as cricket, or quote someone like Paul the Octopus, who can’t fight back if you blame them when their prediction goes pear shaped.
But let us look at Wednesday’s victory and why not just the victory but the very contest was so important for the region and the world.
The semi final match at Mohali could have gone either way, given its total of 260 and an extremely capable but – in India’s favour – inconsistent and unpredictable Pakistani side.
There will always be those who would say that India could have won it in a far more convincing fashion, especially following the swashbuckling start that the flamboyant stroke play of Virender Sehwag gave the Indian innings.
But then, what the heck: a victory is a victory is a victory – even it is whisker thin.
And that is all that has mattered to India and a billion and more Indians around the world, who had their hearts in their mouths as the two subcontinental titans sparred out there in the middle – a mega spectacle like no other anywhere in the world.
As well as the more than a billion pairs of eyes all over the globe that watched every move around that 22-yard strip in the centre of the ground, there is always great interest around the world when these two nuclear neighbours play in a sporting arena, especially one as highly strung as cricket – everyone sits up and takes notice – and for all sorts of reasons that go far beyond the pale of sport.
Whether a political gimmick or genuine gesture, the Indian Prime Minister’s invitation to his Pakistani counterpart and the latter’s acceptance, along with an entourage of 50 officials – and the resultant sense of bonhomie that has emerged that has been termed cricket diplomacy has been viewed positively around the world and drawn praise from all quarters.
US ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer said, “We commend the leaders of both countries for carrying forward with what the media is calling cricket diplomacy. India and Pakistan will take the talks forward at their own pace, ability and character.
“Continued dialogue, combined with cricket diplomacy, expanding people-to-people ties and enthusiasm and optimism on both sides, offers promise of a more prosperous and peaceful region.”
The bonhomie and the spirit that the two teams played with belied the impression of extreme hostility between the nations that is widely conveyed by the media while covering relations between the two countries. The kind of aggression and sledging one sees when other supposedly far “friendlier” countries play one another was conspicuous by its absence.
Which is to the credit to the players, captains, coaches and managements of both sides.
Whether one likes it or not, the two countries are joined at the hip and those ties remain no matter that a perceptibly hostile relationship has permeated most of the years of their existence as independent nations.
The spirit of sportsmanship displayed on the field and the attempt at sensible statesmanship off the field by the top leaders of the two nations was indeed a welcome step – and there is no doubt that this game will go some way in providing an impetus to better the relationship between the two countries.
For India it was indeed an all-important win and traditionally and culturally, the Indian ethos is wont to show exemplary generosity in its moment of victory. Perhaps this is one such time to show a little of that spirit in the world beyond the willow and the wicket.
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