A LETTER FROM KASHMIR TO PAKISTAN CRICKET TEAM

Pakistan have struggled to get their act right
at the top of the order. (Source: Reuters)
Dear Pakistan Cricket Team,

I am a Kashmiri, an Indian administrated
Kashmiri, a supporter of Pakistani cricket
team like ‘all’ other Kashmiris – Yes,
Kashmiris support team Pakistan. Our eye
balls keep contemplating light waves reflected
by the TV screens when, filled-in with the
pictures in green. We cavort every movement
that is in your favour, even on singles. We
celebrate when the team seems frolic and
‘abuse’ when a mistake favours opponents.
Apart from celebrating Eid, we celebrate
Pakistan’s victory more enthusiastically.
Sounds of firecrackers, shouts and hoots
reverberate through the streets of this
bleeding valley to mark Pakistan’s victory. You
brought laurels to Pakistan and state after
defeating England in 1992 world cup final.
Later – as I was just 3 year old that time- I
came to learn that our elders had here
celebrated the moment with full fervour and
joy. With a hope that you would do it again,
we supported you in 1996 World Cup when u
could not even make to the semi finals. We
kept supporting you in 1999 WC when you
lost the final. We cheered for you in the first
round of 2003 WC, and even more worst when
you were forced to make an unexpected exit
after losing to Ireland in 2007 World Cup. We
cheered for you from left to right, clockwise to
anticlockwise, north to south, Asia to
Australia, but of no avail. We were beaten,
taunted, harassed, arrested, warned, expelled,
criticized for being losers, and tagged as ‘two-
faced’ but, we still didn’t stop cheering for
you. We prayed for India’s victory, the worst a
Kashmiri can do, against Ireland in 2015 WC
first round so that you may be in safe zone.
This ‘desert of blood’ looks ‘uninhabited’ when
you start appearing on the TV screens. When
any other team thrashes you, they celebrate,
and we feel helpless. There in Pakistan, you
all can sit and reprimand over the lost. But,
here the case is not same. We can’t afford to
evince our emotions precipitated of dishearten
defeat. Please understand our complications.
Here we are treated like ‘half-wits’ for
supporting no country of our own, and looked
upon as deceitful. For the sake of God, please
stop politics and play cricket. You are a team,
be one. Don’t make us feel that 12 teams led
by three captains are playing on the same
field at the same time. Behave yourself, and
play like a team, not individually (for yourself).
We cheered for Pakistan today against
Australia with only a new ray of hope that
‘Sarfaraz Dokha Nahi Daay Ga’. But, ‘Uno nay
sach Kaha tha ki Sarfaraz Dokha daay ga.’
Reselect, rearrange, recover, rebound,
reassure, resume and repeat the style of 1992,
and make out of the dreams or don’t show