Imagine a Hindus vs Muslims Cricket Tournament played today. It has “khoon-kharaaba” written all over it. I can see communal tensions, riots and blood-shed as the likely fall-out of such a tournament today.
But believe it or not , a tournament of that kind existed in the 1940s…and apparently was keenly contested.
I was reading this piece about K C Ibrahim, India’s longest-living Test Cricketer who died yesterday in Karachi (migrated to Pakistan in 1950). He was one of the stars of Hindu vs Muslims Bombay Pentangular Tournament, 1944/45.
DAWN writes the following about K C Ibrahim's performance in the FINALS of the above-mentioned tournament :
In 1944, Ibrahim played an unforgettable innings that will forever dominate his legacy. Set a fourth innings target of 298, he carried his bat for 137 not out and saw his team home with one wicket to spare.
It was the final of the fabled Bombay Pentangular, contested by Muslims versus Hindus in the fiercely partisan climate of 1940s India.
“It was an innings motivated by an indomitable spirit,” wrote Pakistan’s first captain, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, of that performance which had a demoralizing effect on opposition morale, as dramatic as Javed Miandad’s 1986 sixer-ending knock at Sharjah.
the guy played in 1944, i wonder who still remembers it for it to be "unforgettable"
AajTak, HT, NDTV and Zee News would have, only if he was Hindu (then) or an Indian (today).
Unfortunately.
It took 60 years for both the nations to realise each others importance and commonalities. It will take another 60 years to think without bias in emotional matters.
I was talking about people’s obsession with the game and no, I’m not talking about the miserable guppy that happens to be one of the freaks so obsessed with cricket.
You beat me to it Some1. I was going to post this too. Maybe back then thinking of a Hindus vs Muslims game was no different than a Pathans vs Punjabis game today.
Just because I pointed out your oh-so-obvious inadequacy as a forum moderator, it does not mean that you take cheap shots at me. Really.
Just because you are completely intolerant of people that disagree with you, it does not mean that you get to be rude. It's rather immature, I expected more out of you. Really.
And by the way, just a little piece of advice... don't talk down to people if you can't handle getting a taste of your own medicine in return. Initially, I had said nothing to offend you. You started it. Now deal with it.
