It’s Pakistan Day today, and the Pakistan cricket team just defeated West Indies by 10 wickets to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Kind of poetic, no?
The match took place amid tremendous Bangladeshi support in Mirpur, a fact that was surprising for some given the history between the two countries. But my friend Tafsir, who was leaving the stadium post-match, told me, “Before the Bangladesh cricket team became big, everyone here supported Pakistan, especially when Imran Khan, Inzamam ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, and Wasim Akram were playing. So it’s logical that the Bangladeshis are supporting Pakistan now.”
Pakistan has so far played all of their games in Sri Lanka, receiving an equally warm response among fans in that country despite the horrific attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009. Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan team captain more fondly known as Boom Boom Afridi and less fondly known as Very-Obvious-Ball-Biter, told media outlets,
It was beginning to feel like we were playing at home [in Sri Lanka]. But I’m sure that Bangladesh will be a similar story. The crowd there supports the Pakistan team and they will be backing us now that their own team is not playing in the quarterfinals. The conditions in Mirpur, will be home-like, I’m sure.
And it was. Another friend, Shaheryar Mirza (@mirza9), an Express 24/7 reporter in Karachi, told me, “The Bangladeshis and the Sri Lankans have shown that they love cricket. It is about human beings more than it is about war and politics…It’s a sign that people can show immense grace and rise above history and conflict.”
If my Twitter feed is any indication, many Pakistan fans, while celebrating the win, took a moment to thank Bangladesh for their support today. Rabayl_M tweeted, “I love Pakistan and I can still be deeply apologetic about what happened in 1971 because of us. I’m sorry Bangladesh.” Another Twitter friend, Bolshevik, echoed, “Hats off to the people of #Bangladesh. Phenomenal support despite #Pakistan’s #1971 chutyapey and lack of apology. Amaar shonar Bangla! :-)”
Sure, it’s just a sports tournament. But if the World Cup has taught us anything, it’s how sports can really give us some perspective, and truly transcend boundaries.
Here’s to a great performance in the semi-finals, Pakistan. Many thanks to Bangladesh for their amazing support (what up to my mother country!). And Happy Pakistan Day, [here is my think-positive-thoughts post from Pakistan Day last year].
I thought Afridi should have thanked the crowd for their support during the presentation ceremony. Maybe it just slipped out of his mind.
The spectators were awesome. Cheered for Pakistan and the environment was friendly. Pakistan will sure miss this kind of crowd support in the semi-final in India.
Great post Kalsoom! I was pretty surprised about the Bangladeshi support myself. Kudos to them for cheering Pakistan on! Mirpur definitely transcended history & boundaries; let’s see if Mohali can pass the same test on Mar 30. Given their proximity to Pakistan and the open-heartedness that Punjab thrives on, I don’t think they’ll disappoint. Even if Pakistan plays India. Actually, especially if Pakistan plays India.
I’m a Bangladeshi whose been always confused by the level of support that Pakistan enjoys in Bangladesh. If it was about pure sports, then I’d understand but when you ask people, they usually bring up religion – “they’re also Muslims” – this makes no sense to me given the almost visceral antipathy showed towards India (full disclosure: I’m an Indian cricket team supporter) which actually has more Muslims than Pakistan! The other reason that is often given is “India has historically been a terrible neighbor to us” – even if you take that as gospel, its not like Pakistan has historically been good to us either. Tafsir makes a good point but the reasons given for supporting Pakistan are still the same today as they were before Bangladesh got Test status.
I wonder if the reception would have been as warm if India had been playing instead of Pakistan, if we would have seen images of Bangladeshis with Indian flags painted on their faces? I think not. If you say you’re a Pakistani supporter in Dhaka, no one even blinks. But say you’re an India fan, you get ripped apart (believe me I know!)
This is nothing against Pakistan obviously – some of my closest cousins are Pakistani. But as long as people are citing history and religion and not sports as the reason to support a team, they should maybe do their research better. Just the way it all plays out is completely baffling to me.
Faraz,
Can you please explain why Bangladeshis have “the almost visceral antipathy showed towards India”? What did Indians do to deserve such a reaction from Bangladeshis?
Great day. Great game. Great support.
Congratulations everyone!
Thank you Bangladesh!
Pakistan Zindabad
Joy Bangla!
Indeed, a much needed victory, considering cricket acts like a morale boasting drug for our nation.
And yeh, many thanks to the Bangladesh crowd for their support. That shows the connection between the two countries is deep enough to be shattered easily by grave historical conflicts.
we are still one nation in two nominally different countries…
The crowd was gracious and thats fantastic – but that should not be confused with “one nation in two nominally different countries” – we are definitely not one nation…millions gave up their lives to ensure that nor are we nominally 2 different countries…we ARE 2 different countries with different cultures, languages and people. Its good to leave the tragedies of history behind but lets not confuse graciousness with allegiance…
Yeah I’d agree with Faraz – Bangladesh and Pakistan are definitely not *one* nation in two different countries…
Gotta agree with Faraz & Kalsoom. Pak & Ban are as “one” a nation as Pak & Ind.
Agreed with you Mr Faraz. I have many friends in Bangladesh who support Pak cricket team and it has something more to do with like star Imran khan,shoaib akhtar, S Afridi rather than Pakistan when I ask them why you support Pakistan they say me politely not to bring politics in sport!Going to the Indian supporter in Bangladesh I can tell you Indian border cruelity is to blame for that but still if a match between India vs Pakistan held in Dhaka at least 40% of the cricket fans in stadium will support India.Yesterday was 23rd March and only two days to go for 26th March when in this day the street of Dhaka was full of blood and dead by the “Operation Searchlight” of Pak army.I do not want to understand what they say about cricket adventures of Pak cricket but I was little bit embarrassed yesterday like many others to see Bangladeshies were moving the Pakistani flag high in air!Do we have very short memory like golden fish who forget everything in a less than a minute?
Faraz, I agree with you completely. Emotions are running high at this critical moment of the World Cup. With Pakistan winning in Bangladesh and having overwhelming crowd support, most Pakistanis do get carried away with the “one” nation in two different countries concept. I know many Pakistanis who inwardly suffer from the enormous guilt of 1971 but are too ashamed to openly admit. The comments here are probably their way of wanting to believe that Bangladeshis have forgiven and have moved on.
As a Bangladeshi, my support for the Pakistani team remains unshaken….the reason? The team continues to produce unbelievable talent and some of the most exciting cricket! For me, entertainment is what matters.
err did you guys forget that bangladesh could score only 50 something runs against west indies? and the stoning that followed? They obvioisly wont be supporting west indies. Plus as other ppl have said bangladeshis love pak team.
Either ways, their support was great and probably one of the factors that kept our team going. We might not be one nation or one country but there’s no denying that our countries came from the same mother and we’re siblings who have our differences and also similarities.
gr8 victory…… marvelous performance…….. what a gift by green shirts to the nation on Pakistan day……..!!! n Also thanks to the bangladeshi crowd….!! our 2nd home ground!! 🙂
ok, my optimism!
Best wd be to alleviate differences than create distances- perhaps dealing like a happily divorced couple, overlooking bitterness of divorce for mutual interests. *moving forward*
Grading them “one” doesn’t mean denial of a sovereign state (as is between India & Pak).
Based on culture, language, people -Pakistanis themselves can be remotely called “one” nation…and Perhaps, than this rule applies worldwide.
Also, now when the mere logic of two nation theory/independence struggle is being challenged as *textbook knowledge*,I rest my argument.
Anyways, m too ecstatic, its a happy day today!
congrats all!
I’m sorry – what are you talking about? Your ramblings gotten me even more confused than I was before.
(1) No one is creating distances. What you stated earlier was false – I was merely correcting it – there is no way you can say that the 2 nations are one. The US broke away from England – both nations are allies and speak the same language – absolutely nobody thinks they’re one country.
(2) “Grading them one doesn’t mean denial of a sovereign state (as it is between India & Pak)” – now this makes absolutely no sense – grammatically or in meaning.
(3) As to your “point”: “the mere logic…I rest my argument”, what argument is that? Also who is challenging what?
I’m sorry none of this makes any sense whatsoever. Either do your research better and learn a bit more about the history of the 2 nations or try to form a semi-coherent argument if that is your goal. Otherwise you come across sounding mis-informed and you’re rambling and frankly it insults the memories of millions who gave up their lives to fight for yes…a sovereign nation.
[…] apology for civilian casualties in 1971 war. Kalsoom Lakhani on Changing Up Pakistan, shares her thoughts: Another friend, Shaheryar Mirza (@mirza9), an Express 24/7 reporter in Karachi, told me, “The […]
Thankfully I got to at least watch the 2nd half…so was sad to have missed the brilliant bowling that crushed the West Indies batting. Pakistan did what they always do best….surprise us with exceptional play. As one of the most exciting teams in the World Cup, Afridi’s team showed us yet once again, what exciting cricket is all about. The tremendous crowd support in Dhaka was heartwarming. I was disappointed that none of the Pakistani players interviewed after the game by Ramiz Raja, were gracious enough to acknowledge the Bangladeshi support. All I heard them saying was, “Thanks to all the Pakistanis who came all the way here to support us”.
[…] A Pakistan Win on Pakistan Day […]
Here’s a great piece by Manan Ahmed from Chapati Mystery:
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/pakistan-news/Opinions/Columns/23-Mar-2011/Blind-spots-of-history
excellent piece, Kalsoom.
Thanks for sharing!
hello brothers…me from bangladesh…just want to tell you guys since our birth we always had affection for you people your win felt as our win and your loss also felt as our loss …hope you ppl win the world cup and our brotherhood remains like this…
god bless both our countries
it’s actually basic human psychology. a normal human will never choose one over another absolutely objectively. Emotion and subjectivity would rule. in marketing discourse a basic behaviour of people is they would never choose a product because it is by all means ‘better’. bangladeshis feel a sense of familiarity when pakistanis, say “khudahafez”, “salaam”, “bismillahir rahmanirrahim”, etc. and not to mention the familiar names they have. positive behaviour from pakistanis also gives a feeling that the military’s actions in 1971 had nothing to do with ordinary west pakistanis. involvement especially of national sides will take sports beyond mere technical facets