The World Cup Lessons: SAARC Country Mentality

Shenali Waduge

There is much euphoria as a result of the World Cup Cricket. There are a few lessons to be learnt from the games that have taken place especially the reactions of the fans from the participating SAARC countries.

Pakistan’s surprise loss to Ireland resulted in shock waves across Pakistan. The immediate reaction of cricket-crazy Pakistan was to burn the effigies of their “heroes’, slander the team, curse them and if not for the sudden news of the Pakistan coaches death, the fans may have even proceeded to destroy property belonging to the players.

Then came the news of India’s shock to defeat to Bangladesh. Cricket-crazy India too took to the streets, the media worked overt-time to critically review ball by ball mistakes of the Indian players. Effigies were again burnt but it did not stop there, the angry mob of fans even went on to destroy Dhoni’s half-built house. Losing to Bangladesh was a blow to their pride. The mobsters would have created more havoc had not the players for sheer fear of their lives batted to somehow create history during the next match with Bermuda. Thereafter, India were seen singing praises of their players and the few days angry media too were beaming about what “their lads” had done.

Was this not an anti-climax. People fueled with anger one minute and in the next glorifying their players.

Coming to Sri Lanka. We have had our ups and downs. Our players can remember times when losses were more memorable than the wins. Yet, apart from a few rave reviews and the chants of “the selectors should have chosen…..” no one in Sri Lanka has ever burned a single effigy of a player, attempted to destroy his home or behaved like any of the fans in Pakistan or India.

Sri Lanka is often being projected as a nation of violent and ruthless people. In a cricket-crazy environment, if our people do not behave like some of the other SAARC member nations, this is something that the world should take note of.

We are a nation that loves cricket, we respect our players but our people will never do harm to any player in times of defeat. If this is applicable to the game of cricket then it will apply to different scenarios of our lives.