The humble request of a loyal cricket fan

As a Pakistani, I forgive you. Even if it is all true. I still support you but please help protect this fervor. Too many such incidents will just kill my spirit forever.

Miriam Mehdi September 04, 2010
Dear Pakistan cricket team,

I am not a big fan of cricket. I don’t religiously follow cricket matches and series, in fact, I rarely watch sports at all but I am a huge fan of the Pakistani cricket team. I watch cricket, only if one of the teams playing is Pakistan. My heart screams “howzat” when you bowl the opponent out. I jump as high as I can when the ball is hit outside the boundary. I feel I have won when our cricket team wins.

When we won the World Twenty20 in 2009, I was crazy proud because I knew no matter what anyone said we were the world champions. That is exactly the same feeling most Pakistanis shared; people were out dancing on the streets screaming with joy. The mall road Lahore, the Liberty round-about Lahore were blocked because everyone was out celebrating; sharing their joy with other Pakistanis- because “we” had won. Even displaced locals of the Swat operation were swinging with pride and joy. It was a moment of pure joy. It was moment for Pakistan.

You are the ones who can give Pakistan this kind of happiness. Yes, you! Cricket is so popular in Pakistan and everyone relates to it; so whatever you do, think about everyone who is going to be affected by your actions and decisions.

Part of the answer as to why we are all so angry right now is because we love you, the cricket team so much. Most critics consist of people like me who have high hopes and expectations from you - we don’t want to accept the accusations - and calling you bad names makes us feel a little better.

As a Pakistani, I forgive you. Even if it is all true. I still support you but please help protect this fervor.  Don’t give me a heart attack by letting me hear of another story like this. Too many of them will just kill my spirit and then I too will lose hope in you.

Sincerely and dearly,

A Pakistani fan
WRITTEN BY:
Miriam Mehdi A business student and an instructor, who actively takes part in social activities. Her interests include debate, writing and teaching.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (7)

laraib mohib | 14 years ago | Reply I am also a die hard Pakistani Critcket team fan and I am deeply hurt because of what these players have done. However I feel exactly as u do. I hope they don't do it again.:(
Mustafa | 14 years ago | Reply I've passionately followed cricket for the better part of two decades and have experienced all the highs and lows. This scandal was the straw that broke the camel's back. Pakistani cricket is now completely dead to me. I recently saw Ijaz Butt's interview online and felt the same flash of anger when I saw the News of the World video clip exposing Mazhar Majeed. Does anyone see that he might very possibly have Alzheimer? We've entrusted Pakistani cricket to this man? Really? Well ... we truly deserve what we get. I believe that Pakistan should forfeit the right to play cricket till the time we clean up our act. We really don't deserve to play the sport both domestically and internationally. We've not only sullied the name of cricket but our country's image to boot (not that it was ever at any time good to begin with). I'm actually ashamed to call myself a Pakistani in light of the recent scandal. We've yet again become a laughing stock for the world. I had no answer for South African and Australian friends of mine when they asked me if all Pakistanis are corrupt. Seems as though evil runs through our veins. Perhaps we need an apocalyptic flood of sorts to purge us of our sins.
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