Is cricket anti-Islamic?
-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

recent cricket matches suggest all cricket series in all forms need to be restricted to one (or, two match only) at par with norms of other sports. India plays non-stop cricket and makes records of all sorts.  For Indian media, the bogus ranking is the best part of Indian personality something only specially erected “Bharat ratnas” can match. One does not know the position of other Muslim nations, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Greatly thanks to the efforts of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in recent times, an ungrateful and deceptive India has “achieved” what it dreamt of for decades- Cricket test ranking as the top slotted team.

On January 27 BD-India Test series ended in an anticlimax with both Indian openers scoring zero runs to their credit and BD lost all the matches it played against powerful regional military power India. Day-three of the Dhaka Test on Jan 26, however, will surely go into the annals of Bangladesh cricket as truly memorable. It was a day when a young man showed immense talent and temperament to carve out a splendid century, lending respectability to the team’s fightback against a formidable opposition. Tamim Iqbal Khan played the innings of his life, as he clobbered the Indian bowling attack for 151 runs off just 183 balls. Riding on Tamim’s brilliance and his mammoth 200-run partnership with Junaid Siddique (55), Bangladesh responded to India’s 311-run lead with a solid 228 for three at stumps on day-three. Day four saw quick fall of BD wickets. If one calls them fools, they would naturally object and begin to oppose. The fact they could let Indian have the pleasure of having the cake and eating it too before leaving Dhaka by kicking hosts by an inning defeat at the end the bilateral Test series is not a bad sign. If they wanted they could have easily done that too, as it appeared in the morning session as wickets fell like ice cubes during a morning winter. But this is no victory for BD since other batsmen just tired their luck and not skills. .

Bangladesh, unlike Pakistan, seems to have some employable potential  in cricket and it was demonstrated on January 26 against India in BD in the ongoing test series when BD kept on thrashing Indians and its opener Iqbal got 150 plus with help form his co-batman Siddique who got 5o plus. But, both fell quickly as if they suddenly felt hungry or some call from the nature. The BD scored 290 runs with 3 wickets down- two of them toward the end and it was not sure if BD, if it had played as badly as they did at the end on Day3, could save an innings defeat as well which the Indians, including the aimless, hapless, hopeless Muslims were looking forward only to blast semi-explosives to showcase its military power. On Republic Day they could show their power that way because of BD bating spree. India wanted to pack off BD before lunch, but failed in their only mission as BD overcame the deficit and began leading by just ONE run at lunch that was vetoed by Indian in the second innings. Somehow, BD avoided an innings’ humiliating defeat in Test-2, but that is not a victory for the hosts at all.  A century for a batsman alone cannot make the team the winners automatically. Other players thought they would somehow win and field to deliver as if without really believing in God they expected God to do His part for BD against the powerful bribery master India. 

Both Pakistan and Bangladesh have to outsmart an arrogant India and they need to learn all weaknesses and plus points of Indian cricketers and learn from their own mistakes if they want to play good cricket- not for the sake of fake ranking, but for becoming good players to stay in sport. They must take an oath not play on Fridays when their Muslims are busy praying their Juma- they must respect Islam and other Muslims. Liquor is prohibited for Muslims and Muslims players play with Islamic tenets by drinking all sorts of liquor plus the all sorts of meat provided by non-Muslims. Islam is first for Muslims - vague democracy comes only later. Indian Muslims do not know why they pray just for the sake it at all. Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslims should not follow Indian example in any aspect.

Is cricket anti-Islamic? This is for the international Muslim players  to attempt an answer. Cricket may be popular in former UK colonies. Cricketers are known for making extra cash by fake cricketing. Now Dubai and Afghanistan have also entered the cricket field knowing the mischief being played in the name of cricket. If Muslim players ignore their Friday payers and keep playing they are indeed slapping their own faith in front of entire world. The colonial British Empire would not have discovered anything to boost the image of Islam or Muslims. UK will continue to control the world along with USA, mainly in its former colonies, so long as cricket is played in the former colonies. And India represents UK in South Asia. However, sportsperson I of Pakistan and Bangladesh have a positive role to play and send good signals to the world at large, beyond India and the region; the message should Muslims take Fridays very seriously  for Juma prayers.  Bulk of Pakistani elite is fond of dollars and the culture attached to them.

Is there anyone listening here and there?