The Indians, cricketers and their supporters, had grown tired of losing to Pakistan. Irrespective of the venue, the result, more or less, could be predicted. Pakistan would win. The trend was set by that last-ball six by Javed Miandad at Sharjah in 1986.
Prior to that, India won some epic duels against Pakistan at Quetta, Melbourne and Sharjah, too. But the series of losses that India suffered and the fractured relations between the two countries did impact the behaviour of the players and spectators. Such was Pakistan's dominance that a sporadic Indian victory would trigger off wild celebrations among its supports anywhere in the world.
There was no easing of pressure even in a non-competitive contest. This was sometime in the 1990s. Moin Khan teased Ajay Jadeja, “We are winning!” Jadeja joked “It's just a charity match.” Notorious for his irritating “chirping” from behind the stumps, the Pakistan wicketkeeper retorted, “So what? We can't be losing to you.” That then was the background of an India-Pakistan encounter, even when playing to raise funds for a cause.
Electric atmosphere
The atmosphere would always be electric. Tension would fill the air. The Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium in the deserts of United Arab Emirates would reverberate with religious and jingoistic fervour in the galleries. It was acrimonious, on and off the field, and it was hugely competitive. India could lose to anyone but Pakistan. And Pakistan could not bow to India. Cricket was fierce and the rivalry intense.
Sporting encounters would hardly pass off peacefully. Crowd invasion and interruptions would mark India-Pakistan sporting matches. Tempers would rise with the minute in hockey. Throwing of stones at the rival players was an accepted norm for the spectators on either side of the border at the end of a hockey match. The spectators, more often than not, would emerge as poor advertisements for sporting exchanges between the two countries.
Pakistan and Ravi Shastri had nothing in common but there were moments when they found joint mention by spectators in India even when they were not involved. “Pakistan hai hai ! (down with Pakistan!)” and Shastri hai hai !” were refrains from the spectators at various cricket grounds each time India did well; and not always with Pakistan as opponent. The sporting Shastri would joke about it and sometimes wanted to know if he was being remembered by his ‘fans'.
Appalling spirit
K. Srikkanth's shirt being ripped in Karachi by a spectator and Inzamam-ul-Haq, incensed following a remark by a spectator at Toronto, charging at him in the stands, only showed the appalling spirit in which the players and their supporters behaved and treated the games. Walk outs by teams, led by Bishan Singh Bedi (at Sahiwal, 1978) and Imran Khan (at Ahmedabad in 1987), have not been forgotten.
Gradually, things changed. Spectators displayed maturity and tolerance. There was appreciation for the rival team and it was best exemplified by a fan during India's 2004 tour to Pakistan. The kid had Indian and Pakistan national flags painted on either cheek. It was in sharp contrast to the Eden Gardens at Calcutta in 1999 when the Test match, after crowd trouble, was completed before empty stands.
At the World Cup hockey match in Delhi last year, the fans' behaviour was exemplary. A “Pakistan hai hai!” refrain found no support and there were applause for a good “move” on the field, even when it came from the Pakistan camp. The incident-free match, which India won 7-4, was a refreshing reflection of the new-generation of sports fans at India-Pakistan encounters.
Welcome change
The impeccable behaviour of the Mohali audience was a welcome change from the times when jingoism ruled the galleries not long ago. There was no “Pakistan hai, hai!” refrain in the stands and the sparse number of fans from across the border was reportedly made to feel at “ease” and “at home”. They were not garlanded, but not hooted either. This, the administrators would tell you, was the biggest gain from the India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal on Wednesday. One, however, would never know the reaction of the passionate spectators had Pakistan come close to a win.
The spirit in which the players competed and conducted themselves was excellent. The smiles on their faces during tense moments said it all. And the near-absence of sledging and abusive language at a batsman's dismissal was pleasantly surprising. Old timers would have different tales from the past.
Fitting conclusion
Shahid Afridi complimenting the Indian team and wishing it well was a fitting conclusion to a match that would be remembered as much for its intensity as for the matured response from the spectators in a throwback to Chepauk in 1999 when Wasim Akram's team received a standing ovation for a great Test win. He still reveres the moment!
