The Saleem who loves Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cricket fans based in the UAE were given the fitting treat by their national cricket team
The Sri Lanka cricket team laid the foundation for the upcoming ICC T20i World Cup, with their morale boosting win at the Asia Cup which concluded a fortnight ago in Dubai. Before the Asia Cup kick-started, Sri Lanka was, by a majority, considered as an average side, compared to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
After Sri Lanka’s initial loss against Afghanistan, this doubt further grew stronger. But as the tournament progressed, the Islanders became the team to beat, as they swept the remaining matches with blockbuster wins, not only providing entertainment and rejoice to all the Sri Lankans alike, but also to many others from the neighbouring countries.
Saleem, a Pakistani by birth, is one such individual who felt Sri Lanka’s win in a much greater way. Employed as a driver for an establishment that provided transport facilities at the Asia Cup, Saleem is beyond what he really does for an occupation. In short, he was a cricket fanatic, with an experience of over a decade working closely with the Asian Cricket Council.
Saleem’s task was to operate the shuttle service for journalists who runs back and forth between the Dubai International Stadium and International Cricket Council Academy which were nearly two kilometres apart.
He was dutiful and courteous, fulfilling his task with utmost responsibility, but equally he was engaged with almost all the games that were played listening to live commentaries from the vehicle’s radio. It was the day prior to the Super 4 game between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the same day India played Afghanistan.
Saleem, the ardent cricket fan
Journalists from Sri Lanka and Pakistan were at the press conference preceded by Sri Lanka spin bowling coach, Piyal Wijetunga and soon afterwards all were to shuttle back to the Dubai International Stadium. With both events taking part simultaneously all journalists at the press conference missed the initial quarter of the game.
It was on the previous day that Afghanistan fans ran riot, causing damage to pavilion seats at the Dubai Stadium after losing their game against Pakistan. This incident was Saleem’s topic to initiate a conversation during the short drive.
“Brother there is a saying in Hindi ‘jisise katha he, usipe boktha he’, which means ‘biting the hands that fed’. That’s what exactly happened yesterday. Afghanistan did not have cricket in a bigger scale as present some years ago. It was Pakistan that helped them raise the head become a stronger side that they are at present, by providing help in numerous ways. Their behaviour was unacceptable,” Saleem said with disappointment.
His statement, in fact, could be termed accurate. Afghanistan gained Associate Membership status at ICC in 2001 and at ACC in 2003. They gained ODI status after eight years and to gain Test status they spent double the time. During that progress it was Pakistan who provided Afghanistan coaching assistance – from Kabir Khan, Rashid Lathif, Inzamam Ul-Haq to the present head coach Umar Gul.
Saleem’s interest to cricket was unrelenting, so was his knowledge. He was in all ears to the live commentary between India and Afghanistan and Virat Kohli was nearing his half century after facing only few deliveries. And the possibility of reaching towards a ton was imminent. The question to Saleem from his passenger journos was if Kohli would reach the ton to which Saleem showed a grinning face.
“What’s the point, even if he hits a 200, after India has already made the exit from the tournament. Had he scored a century against Pakistan or Sri Lanka, that could have had a value. Remember the delivery sent by your new fast bowler, Kohli was clueless and helpless,” he recalled referring to Dilshan Madushanka’s stunner which gave Kohli a rare duck.
The Sri Lankan journalists were curious to find what Saleem, being a Pakistani, thought about the final. His reply, being a supporter of the opposition, was a surprising one.
“When Pakistan was shunned by the rest of the world, due to terrorist threats, it was Sri Lanka who came forward to tour there. Sri Lanka was the last team to visit Pakistan, until cricket was a rare commodity to all of us. Your team was attacked in 2009 and we as Pakistanis thought cricket was never going to return. But Sri Lanka came there and opened the doors to other teams. We will never forget that help”.
“We know that Sri Lanka is currently going through difficult times. Personally I would like Sri Lanka to win this time, so are the hopes of many other Pakistanis. Our brothers and sisters there, are battered with problems and hard times. Winning the Asia Cup will help bring back smiles to their faces and monetarily Sri Lanka will gain more,” was his surprising response.
After two days the dreams and wishes of thousands of Sri Lankans, including of Saleem, came true. Saleem’s hopes and wishes stood true to the words, when the whole country rejoiced for days with a chain of events to felicitate the young cricket team led by Dasun Shanaka, continued and are still taking place.
The story does not end there, even after days the team and local journalists returned to the country after a successful mission. Days after our return, a voice message sent by Saleem said: “dear brother, greetings from Pakistan. We are really overjoyed by Sri Lanka winning the Asia Cup. We were confident right until the end that Sri Lanka would make it, and you did it. As we raised our heads from the cricket drought and terrorist issues by your generous visit to our country, I’m sure Sri Lanka will rise again as the proud country they always were.”