Cricket and confidence
Madam,
A man sat on the side of the road and hit his head with a hammer. Someone asked him why was he doing a thing like that. He replied because it felt good when he stopped. And so the fable goes. Isn’t Pakistani cricket like that? Victories feel exhilarating when they finally come, after a string of pathetic, painful performances. In part, it is the relief from pain and torture, the stopping of the hammer to the head that makes them so special.
On those freaky days when the Pakistani team turns it on, the flare is unmatched: bowlers seem to deliver in Fakhar Zaman’s hitting zone, providing him with space without which he is like someone without oxygen; Imamul Haq steps out of his uncle’s shadow and turns into his own man and silences his critics; Babar Azam crackles the ball to the cover boundary and life slips into slow motion and you know there isn’t a better shot in all of cricket; Muhammad Amir cuts the ball into the batsman and gives a whiff of that 18-year-old who had put the world on notice all those years ago; Shaheen Afridi becomes that young teenager who will blow batsmen away for years to come; Wahab Riaz cuts loose and puts the fear of his fierce yorkers into the batsmen’s heart. Everything falls into place, the madness is beautiful and the fans and the opposing team are breathless. They do not know what just hit them.
For a moment you think that all the heartache and headache was worth it.
It is this possibility of the spectacular that keeps a fan like me forever hopeful and loyal. But the feeling is fleeting because the confidence that comes only with consistency is missing. Instead, something intangible clicks in our make-up, unorganized and unplanned, without the use of reason and scientific analysis. All this is not surprising for a place that is inimical to scientific thinking, where a culture of science has been discouraged through policies of conformation. Why strain the languid neurons in our heads when things can be left to a higher power, to belief?
Think about this: it stands to reason that whispering verses while a bowler is charging to bowl a scorching out swinger or a bamboozling googly has to be distracting when all your faculties need to be focused intensely. Muttering anything under your breath has to take up, however small, a part of your brain. How often have you heard the phrase ‘lapse of concentration’ when Pakistani batsmen are batting?
In the absence of method and merit, a chronic case of bad selection inflicts the team, which means that the player best qualified for the job gets side-lined; personal preference and vested interest take precedence over performance, unforgivably a player past his playing days hogs another’s place. Leaving when it is time is an art few have mastered.
So often we hear about talent when Pakistanis speak of Pakistanis, but talent alone is not enough, there are too many talented people who never reach their potential. Such exhortations of talent, such adulation can be counter-productive, ruinous even.
So while the talent is abundant, flare is blinding, the victories dizzying when they do come, would it be so bad if we threw in some method to our madness?
Ali H. Moni,
Via e-mail.
Con artists
Madam,
I recently received a phone call from an unknown number. The person on the other end of the line seemed to be a sophisticated and educated young man. Speaking in a thoroughly professional manner, he introduced himself as a banker. He said that my bank wanted my ATM details in order to save my account which would otherwise get blocked as per a decision of the Supreme Court.
Unfortunately for this person, I am a student and am aware of court decisions and privacy laws. It took me 10 seconds to figure out that this was a scam.
I asked the man some technical questions after which he hung up on me. I have emailed details of this call and the number to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority but have received no response as yet.
I urge authorities that instead of mass texting public service announcements of not sharing scandalous content, they should focus on taking action against these con artists.
It should be fairly easy now that every SIM card has been verified and we also have a cybercrime cell.
Saira Khan,
Lahore.
Public health
Madam,
Congo virus is caused by ticks which inhabit the skin of animals. Humans fall victim to Congo virus after ticks bite them. Besides, it also spreads from animals’ blood. This virus in turn causes severe fever and bleeding, sometimes leading to death.
According to latest reports, Congo virus claimed eight lives in Sindh within first six months of 2019. Eidul Azha is around the corner. Millions of sacrificial animals will be slaughtered during three days of Eid. This can further spread this virus.
The authorities concerned should take necessary measures for countering a possible outbreak of the virus. In addition, Ministry of Health should dispatch teams for awareness about the Congo virus to ensure safety of the people.
Asad Shah,
Via e-mail.
Bizarre rule
Madam,
I bought a cell phone from US in June. It cost me Rs20,000 and was a fairly simple online transaction. A friend who was visiting brought it to Karachi for me.
However, I recently received a message from the PTA about paying duty. I thought it would be a few thousand rupees. I was wrong. I have to pay Rs10,000 for a phone that cost me Rs20,000. If I don’t, my phone will get blocked. How does this make sense? Since an iPhone costs more than Rs100,000, how many people are going to pay Rs50,000 as duty?
I hope someone from the PTA can explain.
Rabia Anwar,
Karachi.