Of
broken records,
Pakistan
chip and Our Cricket
Chintito
Last week
Chintito's criticism of Pakistan officials (not its people)
during the Bangladesh cricket team's recent tour evoked a reaction
as having played a 'broken record'. (See letters SWM 16 October
2003)
This was
not about having a Pakistan chip, whatever that
means. We were talking cricket. The Pakistanis were even coined
in that article as "celebrated hosts".
We should
criticise any country in the world if there was a Rashid-Latif-type
'pickup' making our batsman 'caught out', if there is differential
treatment for the two teams in a flight, if they resort to pitch
doctoring, if they get advantage because of faulty artificial
lighting...
If Steve
Waugh made a pick up and appealed for catch out against out,
we would dip the Australians in the same pigment, if the Indian
team was flying First Class from Mohali to Kolkata and Bangladeshi
cricketers were made to fly Second class on the same flight
we would be very bitter about it against the Indians, if the
floodlights failed at the Lord's and the English got home advantage
because of the blessings of Duckworth and Lewis there would
definitely be criticisms that would touch on the colonial past,
if the South Africans transformed a pitch overnight so as not
to favour Bangladeshi spinners there would be similar protests.
Such condemnations are going on all the time by all the countries
against each other.
No! We did
not sound like bad losers. We amply appreciated our cricketers
by name. Just because we played well, extremely well I should
say, and that fact has been mentioned on any article on the
recent tour to Pakistan, including the one in reference. But
that does not mean we have to shy away from cricket-ingly criticising
our hosts, just because once upon a time we belonged to one
mulk. Should we plant on each of their cheeks the chuma of the
ummah even if they kick our butt, just because once upon a time
we were Pakistan?
As Bangladeshis
we have the right to point it out when our players are mistreated,
in effect we should demand good treatment because we offer every
official visitor to Bangladesh the very best in local hospitality.
Ask any Pakistani cricketer!
Now let
us move on to the 'broken record' mentioned in that reaction.
How old is a broken record?
The holocaust,
the almost complete destruction of Jews in Europe by Nazi Germany
and its collaborators happened some 60 years ago. During World
War II (1939-1945) the leadership of Germany's Nazi Party ordered
the extermination of nearly 6 million Jews. (Reference: Encarta
2003) One of the worst crimes in Western history was committed
in the previous millennium.
Today, Germany
is one of the foremost leaders of the democratic world, but
that does not stop anyone from referring to the heinous crime
that happened in that country.
Only last
week, one of the most respected world leaders, Mahathir Mohammad
of Malaysia referred to the annihilation of the Jews more than
half a century ago in order to prove a point. (DS 16 October
2003) No one will dare say he was playing a broken record.
Even to
this very day, the Jews are hunting down each and every Nazi
criminal guilty of the holocaust. That does not get tagged as
a broken record. In fact some even appreciate their nationalism
and zeal for seeking justice for their kith and kin.
The Mutkijuddho,
the valiant resistance against the almost complete destruction
of Bangalee in Bangladesh by Pakistan and its collaborators
happened some only 33 years ago. Before and during War of Liberation
(1971) the leadership of Pakistan ordered the extermination
of millions of Bangalee. They killed three million, committed
two lakh rapes, and maimed millions, physically and mentally.
(Reference: Our bibek)
Today Pakistan
has a new leadership, albeit military, but that should not stop
any one from referring to that heinous episode in history; because
the crime did happen. Our political equation with Pakistan is
not a broken record. It shall be played eternally.
Why should
criticising Tauqir Zia, Rashid Latif and Inzamam in cricketing
terms sound like playing a 'broken record'? This is a matter
that is very current, hardly a month old. And in our article
1971 was not even mentioned.
In that
letter there is also mention of 'siding with a certain party'.
What party? In our article we very explicitly sided with Bangladesh,
and if it was that party that was meant then we shall continue
to side with that party as long as Padma, Meghna and Jamuna
remains bahaman, as long as there are dhaaner seesh
in our paddy fields, as long as we use laangol to till
our soil...