RAWALPINDI: Cricket is known to be a gentleman’s game and a way of life. During the first Test of the ongoing series between Pakistan and South Africa, it was observed that the South African spectators, belonging to all races and religions, including women, men and children, sat peacefully in the open green spaces in the stadium, enjoying the game in a picnic-like environment. Amongst the spectators, women donning the hijab sat alongside those wearing bikinis. On the other hand, spectators in Pakistan are seated behind iron barricades. There are often segregated seating arrangements for men and women, the crowd sometimes creates trouble by throwing bottles at one another and harassing women.
South Africa is predominantly inhabited by non-whites, yet 80 per cent of its national team’s players belong to the white race, which shows that by and large, they pick their side on merit, resulting in some outstanding performances. On the other hand, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is nominated by the president of the country, on the basis of patronage and cronyism. Since the PCB does not work on democratic lines, the result can be seen in the team’s inconsistent performances.
We have a lot to learn from the South Africans — the civilsed way in which they behave in public places, their shunning of intolerance and their belief in meritocracy and democracy.
Professor Mahmud Ahmad Akhtar
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2013.
