Author: Avirook Sen
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: March 28, 2004
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/printedition/280304/detFRO02.shtml
In Gujarat, a few years ago, some
fortunate people were able to save their lives by changing their names
to hide their religion. In Pakistan, at about the same time, people did
the same thing for less desperate causes - like winning a cricket tournament.
Meet Mohammad Salim, or Ram Das,
son of Lakshmi. Star player-and coach of a cricket team of Hindus who want
to win every 'tape-tennis' tournament in sight. A few years ago, 'Ram Das',
in collusion with his friends at the Krishna Cricket Club, Multan went
to Bahawalnagar to play the 'Diwali Cup'.
This is an annual 'tape-tennis'
tournament (there are others, like the Holi cup and the Easter cup) that
Pakistan's minority communities play among themselves. 'Tape-tennis' games
are played with a tennis ball with scotch tape wound around it.The tournaments
have two rules: teams can't play anyone who's graduated to leather ball
cricket (the hard ball used in internationals and grade games); and no
Muslim is allowed to participate.
But 'Ram Das' went anyway. He steered
Krishna Cricket Club to the final and the team was on the verge of winning
when rivals told the organisers that Ram Das wasn't a Hindu. The game was
up. The tournament - and the Rs 250 entry fee paid by the club - was lost.
Once used as a tool to enable the
British to 'divide and rule', cricket continues to play that role in Pakistan,
despite the efforts of the Mohammad Salims. In general, the smattering
of Hindus and Christians in this country seem to play along. "The chances
of them graduating to the Test level are very remote given both their very
small numbers (1.5 per cent of Pakistan is Hindu) and that the caste system
exists in its own twisted way even in Pakistan," says social scientist
Talat Aslam.
Result: they play among themselves.
It isn't that the minorities haven't
been represented in the Pakistan national side. Anil Dalpat kept wickets
for them in the 80s; Yousuf Youhana, a Christian (his name is a corruption
of Joseph John) is a frontline batsman; and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria,
who is in the Test side, is a Hindu, though from an affluent background,
which helps.
Still, it's an uphill task. Pakistan
cricket, like almost everything else here, is a pretty feudal set-up. Opportunities
for the less privileged come in the form of largesse, regardless of talent.
"People who are sweepers by caste are hardly welcome to the club," says
Aslam. When they do, they are the exceptions that prove the rule.
What makes matters worse, is that
a large chunks of the minority population can be found in Sindh, a province
which is short of representation in the first place.
But the Krishna Cricket Club, its
players, Balmiki Hindus (sweepers by caste, but not untouchables in this
country) doesn't seem to care. It's team continues to play tape-tennis
cricket, wherever an unoccupied pitch can be found.
