High emotions: Heart attack, prayers and rounds of fire
Spectators react to Pakistan-India semi-final.
ISLAMABAD:
Spectators in Rawalpindi were pretty upbeat as the match between India and Pakistan took off but the mood took a swing after Pakistan’s batting line collapsed. Surprisingly, some spectators did not give up hope and cheered at every four and sixer hit by Pakistan.
There were comments galore all around Rawalpindi. Most did not want to believe that India played a better game than Pakistan which got them a slot in the final.
One young cricket enthusiast was so pumped up as the Pakistani side was going down that he had a minor episode of heart attack. He had to be removed away from the crowd.
Religion seemed prominent among the spectators. Everytime Pakistan took a wicket or hit a boundary the atmosphere rang up with Islamic slogans. An elderly woman standing at the rear end of the boisterous crowd had her hands clasped and was praying. When asked who she was praying for, she replied if Pakistan won, it would make her son a happy man. George Orwell’s observation that sports between nation-states was a battle without the shooting seemed so true watching the cricket enthusiasts. It was seen as a war between the Kafir India and the Muslim Pakistan. Mature men would throw taunts at Sita and Ram. One man proudly showed a text message which ran something like this: “You (India) have Munee Badnam, Reshman jawan, and we (Pakistan) have a Captain Pathan.”
Aerial firing was profusely used in all big screen joints. In one such joint in Saddar, a policeman in civvies could not resist the temptation and took out his gun firing all rounds in his magazine.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2011.
Spectators in Rawalpindi were pretty upbeat as the match between India and Pakistan took off but the mood took a swing after Pakistan’s batting line collapsed. Surprisingly, some spectators did not give up hope and cheered at every four and sixer hit by Pakistan.
There were comments galore all around Rawalpindi. Most did not want to believe that India played a better game than Pakistan which got them a slot in the final.
One young cricket enthusiast was so pumped up as the Pakistani side was going down that he had a minor episode of heart attack. He had to be removed away from the crowd.
Religion seemed prominent among the spectators. Everytime Pakistan took a wicket or hit a boundary the atmosphere rang up with Islamic slogans. An elderly woman standing at the rear end of the boisterous crowd had her hands clasped and was praying. When asked who she was praying for, she replied if Pakistan won, it would make her son a happy man. George Orwell’s observation that sports between nation-states was a battle without the shooting seemed so true watching the cricket enthusiasts. It was seen as a war between the Kafir India and the Muslim Pakistan. Mature men would throw taunts at Sita and Ram. One man proudly showed a text message which ran something like this: “You (India) have Munee Badnam, Reshman jawan, and we (Pakistan) have a Captain Pathan.”
Aerial firing was profusely used in all big screen joints. In one such joint in Saddar, a policeman in civvies could not resist the temptation and took out his gun firing all rounds in his magazine.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2011.