The Pakistan cricket team has broken all previous traditions and has performed brilliantly during the ongoing T20 World Cup. It has secured a place in the final four and has left an indelible mark as the strongest team in the event.
Before the global event commenced, when the team was selected, fans and critics as usual made a lot of noise. Many claimed that Haris Rauf gives away a lot of runs and others said Asif Ali did not receive a place. Pakistan remains undefeated so far after its stellar performances. These two players played a huge role, and in two of the four matches, Haris Rauf and Asif Ali were declared Player of the Match.
One thing is clear that the game and fans are inseparable from each other. Pakistani fans often go a bit too far on personal likes and dislike and don’t give enough credit to the selectors for the team’s win. The board and selection committee was strongly criticised after the team was announced. And now they deserve appreciation for picking a team that has made us proud and has emerged as the favourite to win the tournament.
Fans should always keep in mind that nothing lasts forever. We have seen the rise and fall of the mighty West Indies, we have Pakistan stumble and reach its lowest ebb and now its current situation is in front of us. India was undoubtedly the strongest team and its cricket structure is a model for the world. But it is not always possible for any team or player to play the same game.
We’ve seen cricket greats Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar get caught off the ball and have also witnessed Wasim Akram and Courtney Walsh being slammed for sixes. The West Indies team once ruled the world of cricket and is now fighting to save its reputation. Winning and losing is part of the game. So it should not be worrisome if Team India is at its lowest point.
There is no denying that the Indian cricket team has become the favorite T20 team due to the glittery IPL. Not just the Indian cricket team but many famous players are facing fatigue after the IPL just concluded in the IPL.
Blaming the IPL for poor performance and targeting Indian players is against the spirit of the game.
It is not that the fans are always wrong. If Pakistani player Fawad Alam is part of the national team after a decade, the credit goes to the fans. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are both players who have rendered valuable services for India. Both are brilliant players with excellent records and can easily win matches but it is inappropriate to hurl threats due to below par performance in a match.
Whether it’s a game or war, we must remember that our opponent is also a human being and has some weaknesses. A man never intentionally makes a mistake. He succeeds and sometimes fails. In cricket, the attitude of fans is very important for their heroes. If you have a positive attitude then the losing team will live up to expectations by striving for victory next time. But if your attitude is negative, then the player will be demoralized and not perform in the field. Fans should control their emotions, particularly on social media. They should show encourage them even after a defeat so that the players can perform better in the next match and even live a normal life.
