It doesnt get any better than this
John Dewey in his seminal work, Art as Experience, pointed out that the notion of the ideal often renders us unable to appreciate the beauty and joy represented by the actual/existential. This work received high praise from a man no less than Oliver Wendell Holmes; a great lover of words and language. But sometimes, be it through poetry, perfect sunsets or a Rahat Fateh Ali qawwali, the actual comes perilously and tantalizingly close to the ideal. For those rare moments, the universe seems in perfect harmony.
Here and now, the actual is closest to being the ideal. Ever since we got to know and love this beautiful game of cricket, the ideal clash has been defined as Pakistan facing India in a World Cup final. A semi-final at Mohali is what we have now. Afridis Team Pakistan and Dhonis Team India have scripted this clash with performances that fluctuated like the share prices at the Karachi or Bombay Stock Exchange. Some thought this semi-final may not happen. But if there was any doubt left, Yuvrajs final carving drive against Australia saw his bat flowing like a pen writing a script that more than a billion have yearned for. Quite aptly, just like a great author may seem exhausted after scripting a thriller, Yuvraj dropped to the ground as millions took in the script he had completed.
The 30th of March might well be a day that is forever etched in our cricketing memories. Where will you be on the 30th of March? is a question doing the rounds. That day will not begin at dawn and it will not end with the sunset. Time, for all practical purposes, might as well be still. It may halt for long periods till the fear of defeat or the hopes of victory signal its passing. The day will begin when the first ball is bowled in Mohali. Never before have these two countries faced each other in a World Cup semi-final. Indias record against us in the World Cup should give them a lot of confidence. All said and done and considering the teams strengths, weaknesses and mental toughness, India would rightly be considered as the favourites to win this game. And should India lose, it will come as a surprise to many, including myself.
As much as there is talk and display of nationalism, a defining moment and a cricketing war there is something else at play herea rare moment when people on both sides of the border will have moments of celebration. Who will have the last laugh? That is not important to me at least. Yes, I want Pakistan to win this match and reach the finals. And while I do not agree that cricket is just a gamethe fact remains that it is a sport; one that we the people of the sub-continent are deeply passionate about. This mouth-watering clash, to me, is more a celebration of sport, the seductive beauty of cricket and the smiles that it can spread on the faces of millions.
Prayers, silent and loud, will be said from the foothills of the Himalayas to the shared shores of the Arabian Sea, from the disillusioned hills of our Balochistan to the sands of Goa. There will be spontaneous screams and pleading sighs. I hope that, apart from the result, we can also reflect on what a rare moment of shared joy this is. For in the end, whether you are an Indian or a Pakistani, what we are all cheering for and pinning our hopes on in Mohali is nothing but the wonders of the human spirit, the cricketing talent and passion of twenty two men wearing our respective colours.
For good reason, we were not allowed to host the ICC World Cup 2011. If Pakistan had been a co-host, this semi-final may well have been played in Lahore. Just imagining that is likely to make cricket fans smile in the dark. But Mohali it is and let it be Mohali then. In 2007, we chased a total in excess of 320 on that ground to beat India. It is true that our team may fold in the semi-final and we lose really badly but let us all hope that we see a good fight from both sides. On a good day, the Akmal brothers can exploit the gaps on the off-side more skillfully than a master craftsman threading a needle.
On a bad day, the first square cut flies straight to the fielder. That humble cricketing genius, Sachin Tendulkar, will play with the usual passion of a 16 year old and if the Rawalpindi Express is allowed to leave the station, Shoaib Akhtar will be charging in with Mumbai on the 2nd of April on his mind. This then is where we celebrate cricket and also celebrate Team Pakistan for they have given us this rare joy and confidence. Team Pakistan, just like its home and fans, has breathtaking resilience. Whichever team heads to Mumbai, it will be the stuff dreams are made of. Quite aptly, they call Mumbai the city of dreams.
The writer is a Barrister of Lincolns Inn and practices in Lahore. He has a special interest in Anti-trust/Competition law. He can be reached at wmir.rma@gmail.com