ID :
172297
Thu, 03/31/2011 - 21:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/172297
The shortlink copeid
Bizarre reactions in Pak after team's defeat against India
Islamabad (PTI) - Angry fans broke TV sets, a
student took poison and the Lahore High Court was approached
with a complaint that the Government had "gifted" the World
Cup semi-final to India in a bid to improve bilateral ties.
These were among the bizarre reactions in Pakistan
to its team's defeat at Mohali that shocked this cricket-mad
country united in the love for the game, but violently divided
over many issues.
Investigate the recordings of telephone conversations
between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, cricket captain
Shahid Afridi and Interior Minister Rahman Malik, urged an
upset citizen in his petition to the High Court.
The recordings should be produced in court to verify his
allegations, the petitioner pleaded, a day after India had
humbled Pakistan by 29 runs at Mohali.
Such is the cricket mania that a person lost his life and
50 others were injured in 'celebratory fire' in Karachi when
Pakistan appeared doing well in the match.
(The craze is matched by across the border in India where
a shopkeeper in Ghaziabad is reported to have been shot dead
by some people angered by his wrong prediction that Pakistan
would win the match).
How would the Pakistani team be received by the
unforgiving public on its return home was a hotly debated
topic with people recalling that irate fans have attacked the
houses and families of vanquished players in the past.
Afridi himself apologised to the nation immediately after
the match and many sane voices shared his view that the team
had done much better than was expected of it.
Leading the supportive voices was Punjab Chief Minister
Shabaz Sharif who announced a cash reward of Rs five lakhs to
each player.
Afridi's young daughter broke into tears on national
television, saying she was hurt at the loss.
Shocked by the defeat, a man died of heart attack in
Faisalabad.
Meanwhile, the media screamed "massacre at Mohali"
attacking the team for poor fielding and batting.
"Cricket mania evaporates after anti-climax", read the
headline of 'Dawn'.
student took poison and the Lahore High Court was approached
with a complaint that the Government had "gifted" the World
Cup semi-final to India in a bid to improve bilateral ties.
These were among the bizarre reactions in Pakistan
to its team's defeat at Mohali that shocked this cricket-mad
country united in the love for the game, but violently divided
over many issues.
Investigate the recordings of telephone conversations
between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, cricket captain
Shahid Afridi and Interior Minister Rahman Malik, urged an
upset citizen in his petition to the High Court.
The recordings should be produced in court to verify his
allegations, the petitioner pleaded, a day after India had
humbled Pakistan by 29 runs at Mohali.
Such is the cricket mania that a person lost his life and
50 others were injured in 'celebratory fire' in Karachi when
Pakistan appeared doing well in the match.
(The craze is matched by across the border in India where
a shopkeeper in Ghaziabad is reported to have been shot dead
by some people angered by his wrong prediction that Pakistan
would win the match).
How would the Pakistani team be received by the
unforgiving public on its return home was a hotly debated
topic with people recalling that irate fans have attacked the
houses and families of vanquished players in the past.
Afridi himself apologised to the nation immediately after
the match and many sane voices shared his view that the team
had done much better than was expected of it.
Leading the supportive voices was Punjab Chief Minister
Shabaz Sharif who announced a cash reward of Rs five lakhs to
each player.
Afridi's young daughter broke into tears on national
television, saying she was hurt at the loss.
Shocked by the defeat, a man died of heart attack in
Faisalabad.
Meanwhile, the media screamed "massacre at Mohali"
attacking the team for poor fielding and batting.
"Cricket mania evaporates after anti-climax", read the
headline of 'Dawn'.
