Shadow Across the Playing Field

[Anonymous]

Cricket with Pak? Sachin recalls, Tharoor hopes A measure of the tension that exists during Indo-Pak cricketing encounters comes through in a remark made by master blaster Sachin Tendulkar during the launch of Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor’s book on Friday. At the event that marked the launch of Shadow Across the Playing Field coauthored by Shashi Tharoor, Tendulkar recalled the reaction the Indian team got after it returned having lost a one-day series to Pakistan. “When we went to Pakistan to play one-dayers’ and we lost. When we came back home - as we lost with Pakistan - everyone was looking at us as if we were criminals. People only talk about highs and lows on the field. These experiences teach you a lot. They help you to lead a balance life,” he said. He also brought out the other side of reactions. Referring to the 1997 ODI series in Canada, Tendulkar said, "We beat Pakistan 4-1 and the reception we got in Delhi was incredible. About 5000-7000 fans were there to receive us at the airport at two in the morning. They threw garlands and roses at us. We were treated like kings," he recalled. Tharoor meanwhile hoped the two countries would be seen facing off on field again provided Pakistan agrees to take action against anti-India forces and clamp down on terror and related activities. “We will be playing once again provided certain things happen in bilateral relationship, some more progress in action is needed from Pakistan. The issue is to create right environment and it needs to be done . The PM has signaled very clearly that India is ready to do everything , What happened on 26/11 in India is not dealt effectively in Pakistan,” he said. This function was hosted by Harsha Bhogle and attended by various people like Lalit Modi, Yuvraj singh, Harbhajan Singh, Dilip vengsarkar, Ajit Wadekar, Mukesh Ambani among others.

At one point during the interaction with Harsha, MOS Shashi tharoor mentioned the role of religion in the way cricket is played between the two countries. He actually took the example of Shoaib Mallik thanking all the muslims for supporting their team after the 2007 T20 final. Mr. Tharoor said that it must have been offensive to pakistani hindus, especially a hindu Pakistani cricketer like Kaneria and also muslims in our team. He also added that if a Indian captain had thanked all the Hindus then he would have been sacked.

[iHammad]

I am looking forward to the India-PAkistan face off during the CT