to imagine a more stressful job than Sarfaraz Ahmed’s. As captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team, he must brave bruising encounters with India, a far bigger country that happens to be just as mad about the sport, and a bitter rival off the pitch, too. The team leader must also weather Pakistani fans, who at the drop of a catch or fall of a wicket can shower love or dump torrential scorn with equal gusto.
These days the job is harder than ever. This is not only because the four-yearly World Cup is under way, featuring ten national teams. Nor is it just because tensions with India have been riding especially high since February, when a terrorist bombing in Indian-held Kashmir sparked a tit-for-tat military escalation with Pakistan that brought the neighbours to the brink of nuclear war.
Mr Ahmed ignored the advice, only to watch India effortlessly crush his team. But the shock of ending 89 runs behind, and being left ninth out of ten in the tournament ranking, turned out to be merely the opening act in a long humiliation. Enraged by footage of the unfortunate captain failing to stifle a yawn during the match, and by rumours that his team had been gorging on fast food instead of training like the athletic Indians, Pakistan fans have heaped opprobrium on Mr Ahmed.
“When I die I want Sarfaraz to lower me into the grave so he can let me down one more time,” wailed one tweet, to which came a tart response: “But he might drop you.” On Facebook, Pakistanis shared videos that contrasted scenes of the India captain, Virat Kohli, lifting ponderously huge weights, against a cheap television advertisement where Mr Ahmed appeared, dancing to a jingle promoting a chocolate-covered betel concoction.
Needless to say, Indians enjoyed a fanfare of gloating. This subsided with unusual speed, however, as cricket fans took instead to sharing the self-deprecatory jokes coming over the border. But if ordinary Indians proved ready to concede that Pakistanis might be good chaps after all, politicians were not so generous.
Dear Economist, A politician is born of the same soil as its people. This distinction is farcical. You can't sustain a 70 year policy of hostility without a political buy in. Pakistanis chose to hate and war they shall have to reap what they have sown. Karma!!
Never believe mullahs
Not only India , each and every states except China feels the same war like feeling with terrorist country Pakistan . I m ashamed of calling Pakistan as my neighbour.
In my opinion Pakistanis are more or less likely asian countries in Indian Subcontinent. One match they loose they will critisize their teams and one win they get they will bestow all the love on team. All cricket playing countries in Asean region are same
You need to hire better writers. This was sub par and very high school in its composition. Is it cheaper to hire Indian writers? Please stop sucking.
Mention their name jinnah
This scenario of viewing a cricket match as proxy for war has been fuelled as also fanned by the media. And so long the media backed and/or supported by hard-liners in the two countries plays this dirty game, there would not be any solution to the problem.
AmmarAliQureshi We made that other wise cricket is just a sport
Pakistan is a tin pot nation, not in the same league as India. Forever trying to create a false parity.
It is Difficult no doubt. Cricket is looked at as a religion in India and as a national sport for Pakistan. But i feel the Asian fans forget. Just 2 years ago Sarfaraz's pakistan delivered the ICC Champions trophy,defeating INDIA no less. Us fans forget this. He is a good skipper
Makes business sense. Wait, what?
He he. And Economist allegedly has journalists on its payrolls. You guys are half dead since change of editor. Truth is now your nemesis. Ta ta.
US has one Trump, India has many
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