I’ve always wondered why cricket is so big in Pakistan and India. (Even though IMO, cricket is losing its following in Pakistan because of a combination of factors some of which are performance related. )
I know many people in my extended family who could’ve made something out of themselves had they not spent a disproportionate amount of time playing cricket. The only reason why I was ever allowed to play the game is because I’ve had a decent academic career. otherwise all elders in my family are strictly anti-cricket. Can anyone relate to this?
I’ve heard that cricket owes some of its popularity to Gen. Zia who supposedly promoted this game (and Imran) so that people were too busy studying the locks of our cricketers rather than trying to find out what their government was up to. The senior most government official asking a sportsman to take back his retirement just does seem right. Sounds too petty. This theory does make sense because the length of cricket match directly implies that a person will either work on a given day or watch cricket. Work and cricket are mutually exclusive, imo.
Another reason I guess why cricket is as big as it is is because of how the game has been marketed in the subcontinent. The marketing efforts have been very persistent and therefore, effective. But can promoting one player or a couple of players take the game to a level where it has a cult following?
I remember a time when The News used to report every isty bitsy detail about the Pak cricket team at the expense of other Pak sports. Jansher Khan used to not make the headlines even though he literally rewrote all record books. He, however, DID make the headline when he lost after a very long winning streak. What a sad state of affairs.
Squash and field hockey have had their fair share of oustanding athletes from Pakistan. Jahangir, Jansher, Shehnaz Sheikh, Shehbaz, Samiullah… So why don’t these games have an almost obssessive following?
Please, reply with what you think? Perhaps I should post this in the Culture forum but I’d like to get feedback from the excellent posters here.
Sam yaar, it’s a difficult game to get into but once you do there’s no going back. I’m also into other sports like football, tennis, boxing, to name a few but the only sport in Pakistan which interests me is cricket. Firstly, it’s a team game, but secondly it’s also a very personal contest between the batsman and the bowler. Each player gets tested to the very core under the spotlight.
It’s not just the guys, all the women in my family are hooked on it as well. Everybody takes the successes and failures very personally so maybe it’s got under the skin too much
The only reason field hockey was declared national sports because we won the gold medal in 1960 Rome Olympics. To be honest, I think Cricket should be the National sport.
Its becouse its only sport Indian and Pakistan can call themselve as of world standard.it used to be hockey but for last 20 years its been downhill.
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We are sport starved nation and we stick to game where we think we can beat best in world.*
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*Originally posted by funguy: *
The only reason field hockey was declared national sports because we won the gold medal in 1960 Rome Olympics. To be honest, I think Cricket should be the National sport.
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Well not only that.During those days we were best in hockey where as in Cricket AUS,ENG,NZL,WI were definitly far better than us.
[QUOTE] Originally posted by allah_ka_banda: *
Its becouse its only sport Indian and Pakistan can call themselve as of world standard.it used to be hockey but for last 20 years its been downhill.
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We are sport starved nation and we stick to game where we think we can beat best in world.
Well not only that.During those days we were best in hockey where as in Cricket AUS,ENG,NZL,WI were definitly far better than us.
But equation has changed now.
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There is something more to cricket then the fact that it is the only game we can call ourselves as of world standard. It seems to be in our blood, nothing excites the people of the subcontinent like cricket. If world standard was the criteria than surely Squash would have been the most exciting game in Pakistan during the 70's and 80's.
The fanaticism with which we follow cricket is unique. Why is it? I dont know.
Even during the days when Pakistan and India dominated hockey, the clash between the two teams didnt produce as much drama as the clash on the cricket field.
There is something more to cricket then the fact that it is the only game we can call ourselves as of world standard. It seems to be in our blood, nothing excites the people of the subcontinent like cricket. If world standard was the criteria than surely Squash would have been the most exciting game in Pakistan during the 70's and 80's.
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Well Yes...being a team game helps.
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The fanaticism with which we follow cricket is unique. Why is it? I dont know.
Even during the days when Pakistan and India dominated hockey, the clash between the two teams didnt produce as much drama as the clash on the cricket field.
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I disagree.Even Hockey used to excite same amount of passion when it was played between India and Pakistan.Having said that we shouldnot judge this issue from the point of view of Indo-pak clash because thats really a special case.Point is do people have some kinda intrest in Pak vs Eng ( for that matter Pak vs NZL) match today than they used to have say 40 yrs back. Answer would be a sure No! Intrest is much more now.
If we were world beaters in Hockey or football I think we would have shown same kinda intrest in these sports too.
Xtreme, gotta agree with that. this stupid game is addictive. I thought I'd quite after the seniors would step aside but now I'm keen on following the development of the new boys.
Fg and ehsan bhai, I don't quite understand. How are we world class in cricket and not so in squash and field hockey? Pakistan's cricket might have more potential than other sports. But squash and hockey have done just as well as cricket if not better (at least in recent times).
I don't know why I'm just like obssesed with cricket... I've been following the game for over 11 years now and my life would be really different without it.
It really surprises me because hockey is our national sport but the majority of people are very passionate about cricket!
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*Originally posted by sambrialian: *
Xtreme, gotta agree with that. this stupid game is addictive. I thought I'd quite after the seniors would step aside but now I'm keen on following the development of the new boys.
Fg and ehsan bhai, I don't quite understand. How are we world class in cricket and not so in squash and field hockey? Pakistan's cricket might have more potential than other sports. But squash and hockey have done just as well as cricket if not better (at least in recent times).
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Squash..... Pak used to be besttill 4-5 yrs back...
Hocky... How many world class tournaments have Pak/India won in recent times??
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*Originally posted by ehsan: *
yes but AKB the point is that when we were the best in these games cricket was still our passion and the question is why?
On a broader point most European countries are good in many sports as well but football is their passion. why?
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a team represents a country. but an individual plays only for him/her self. that is why some people give so much importance to davis cup, federation cup in tennis. individual sports will not become national passions though those who excel may become heroes in their land.
