1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:05,640 India and Pakistan is one of the most followed rivalries in world 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,360 sport. But beyond the big moments, the 3 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:14,040 highlights, the patchy highlights on YouTube, the 4 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:19,560 scorecards, what really makes it special is how people have 5 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:21,720 watched this game from both sides of the border. 6 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,320 For many of us fans, this rivalry is tied to players and 7 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,880 eras. Wasim and Wakar running new 8 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:35,960 ball, Saklen essentially changing how spin was bold and 9 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:41,360 being the master of his art and the cough of Shoaib. 10 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:47,760 I mean with running, running in raw pace, that Calcutta test, I 11 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,760 mean having Sachin carry all those expectations. 12 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:56,240 The 2004 tour. Sevag taking the game on from 13 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,000 Ball 1. And of course, in recent years, 14 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:06,440 I mean Kohli, I mean the love that he's got from Pakistan, the 15 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:12,000 the singular performance of Amir in that 2017 Champions Trophy 16 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,160 final. For some of us, it's childhood 17 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:21,120 memories, watching these matches with our families, maybe 18 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:25,520 planning days around this game. And, and remembering exactly 19 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,560 where we were for certain moments. 20 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,520 For a lot of others, it's probably been about the group 21 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:36,480 chats, the debates, the emotions that that have stayed like long 22 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,760 after these matches have ended. I mean, you only have to be on 23 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:45,440 the Internet to know that there is probably no knock that's more 24 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:51,400 hyped than Kohli's 82 versus Pakistan in the 2022 World Cup. 25 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,600 This episode isn't about analysis. 26 00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:00,720 It's not even about breaking down performances or decisions 27 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:04,400 or anything of. That sort, it's essentially 28 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:09,919 about the people who've lived these matches and this rivalry. 29 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:14,200 As fans, we reached out to supporters from both India and 30 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,480 Pakistan and asked them to share what this rivalry means to them. 31 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,000 Their memories, their feelings, their stories. 32 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:26,960 So for the next little while, you'll hear it in the voices of 33 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:57,560 the fans themselves. Hi everyone, my name is Nawab 34 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,320 Hassan Hussain Qureshi. I'm an agriculturalist, a sports 35 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,440 management professional and a sports analyst. 36 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:09,760 I was the former head of Digital Media for Multan Sultans in the 37 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,400 PSL and I was part of the Southern Punjab Cricket Board 38 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:15,960 here in domestic cricket in Pakistan. 39 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:20,360 And ever since I can remember, cricket has been a very, very 40 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:24,520 big part of my life, been a big part of my family. 41 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:30,360 My late uncle is a former first class cricketer, Nawab Ashiq 42 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:33,120 Hussain Qureshi. He's also someone who did a lot 43 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,880 of work for Pakistani cricket at grassroots level. 44 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:38,800 He also did a lot of work for seniors. 45 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,600 Cricket from my grandmother's side, my paternal grandmother's 46 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,520 side. I'm related to your very own 47 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,400 Nawab Mansoor Ali Khan Patodi, who was her first cousin, 48 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,640 obviously one of India's great captains, and then her Mamu 49 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:58,640 Iftahar Patodi, Nawab senior played for both England and 50 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,760 India. So cricket's always been a very 51 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,520 big part of my life. It was just the game that my 52 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:08,200 family loved more than anything. I have memories of watching 53 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,400 cricket from a very young age, with my grandfather, with my 54 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:15,160 uncle, playing with my brothers, with my friends. 55 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:20,680 I would say till for the 1st 18 to 19 years of my life, cricket 56 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,240 pretty much dominated everything in my life. 57 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,120 And obviously a big part of supporting Pakistan, a big part 58 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,240 of watching Pakistani cricket is the incredible rivalry between 59 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,600 India and Pakistan. So around the time when I grew 60 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:39,640 up, India and Pakistan, I don't have a lot of memories. 61 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,280 I know they played a lot through the 80s, but I don't have too 62 00:04:42,280 --> 00:04:46,720 many vivid memories of that. My very first clear memory is of 63 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,040 Arkil Javed's hat trick against India in 1991. 64 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:53,840 And then, you know, Pakistan won that game, Ark. 65 00:04:53,840 --> 00:04:58,880 It took 7 wickets. I remember losing the very first 66 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:03,560 World Cup match both the sides played, 1992, Pakistan losing. 67 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,840 And it's been pretty abysmal for us since then. 68 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,920 We've never beaten India in the 50 over World Cup. 69 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:16,080 We have one win in in T20 World Cup, obviously have a final loss 70 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:20,920 as well. So my, my strongest memories are 71 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,120 of when India and Pakistan started playing Test cricket 72 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:28,960 again in 1999, that those three games, Pakistan winning an 73 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:33,760 incredible game in, in Chennai, is, is just my, it's one of my 74 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,680 all time favorite Test matches. For everything that went on, 75 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,160 just the cricket, the crowd's reaction, just just what it was 76 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,400 like to seeing India, Pakistan play again. 77 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,840 Then Delhi, where India roared back to, to, you know, with Anil 78 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:49,120 Kumble's 10 wickets to tie the series. 79 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,400 And then the Asian Test Championship with the game at 80 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,960 Kolkata, which was such an incredible game, watching 81 00:05:55,960 --> 00:06:00,040 Pakistan somehow find a way to win, that being 6 for 26. 82 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,680 And then all of my memories of I try and block out all the times 83 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:07,560 India beats us, which is quite a lot. 84 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:12,560 Now in the last sort of 5-6 years, the dominance from Indian 85 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,760 cricket has been incredible. It's been very one sided in 86 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,160 India for me for my money right now, easily the best team in the 87 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,280 world and have been for some time across formats. 88 00:06:23,280 --> 00:06:25,880 I know they've had a bit of a rough run in tests recently, but 89 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,040 overall, I'd say the last 3-4 years they've been the best team 90 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,720 in the world and Pakistan has struggled to keep up to that. 91 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,760 So I, I kind of go back to earlier days. 92 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:38,480 I think about, you know, that that series in 99. 93 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:42,560 I look back to India store here in in Pakistan. 94 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,640 I was in Lahore for both the ODIs that Pakistan lost when 95 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:48,880 India came back from 2/1 down to win the series. 96 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:54,040 But my overriding memory of that tour is making friendships with 97 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,320 people from India, would come to watch the cricket in Pakistan, 98 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:00,280 lifelong friendships, people I'm still in touch with today. 99 00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:03,880 I was very lucky to visit India in 2013. 100 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:09,280 It was an incredible visit. Just so wonderful to be there to 101 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:12,680 meet the people, to experience the love and kindness and 102 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,760 hospitality and just reconnecting with my friends who 103 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:19,000 I'd, who I'd met almost, you know, 7-8 years earlier when 104 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:20,520 India and Pakistan played each other. 105 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:25,320 And we're people I'm still in touch with today watching games 106 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:27,160 in college. I went to university in England, 107 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,360 watching games with Indian, you know, class school mates, 108 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,920 college mates and friends there. The 2003 World Cup, another not 109 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:39,360 so very nice moment for us. And then that, that incredible 110 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,960 series here. Then when Pakistan went to 111 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,800 India, that Bangalore Test match in the drawn series, 1, all 112 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,960 absolutely my favorite. I think if I had to pick one 113 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:53,040 game to be the best game of my life, it would be that with, you 114 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:55,880 know, Unis Khan and Zimam and then Pakistan taking the 115 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,240 wickets, just that strong Indian side, getting a draw at home and 116 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,000 then coming from 2 nil down to win that, that one day series 117 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,040 that that's a memory that stays with me. 118 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,160 And there's a memory that stays with me from, you know, when 119 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:12,840 Pakistan last played a bilateral in India in 2013, because that 120 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,120 series was also something. So it's always been about 121 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:19,360 incredible cricket. When I when I look at the insane 122 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,160 talent across both teams and I look at the legends and I think 123 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:26,040 of, you know, all the greats, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Javed 124 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,320 Miadat, Sunil Gavaskar, Wasim Akram, Sachin Tendulkar, the 125 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,080 list is endless. And then obviously you talk 126 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,480 about Virat Kohli. I mean, Virat Kohli, what he's 127 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,919 done to Pakistan, very few people have done and he is just 128 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,280 what an incredible honor it has been. 129 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:46,840 But also how horrendous it has been to see him beat us as much 130 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,760 as he has over that time. He's, he's just an incredible 131 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,280 player. And, you know, and my memories 132 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:56,600 of cricket off the field are, you know, watching games with 133 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:00,760 people, meeting strangers around the world, wherever you run into 134 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,320 them, you start talking about cricket. 135 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,160 It's something that unites us, something that we can talk 136 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:06,760 about. We'll we'll we'll have a bit of 137 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,280 ribbing, you know, but bug each other about head to heads or 138 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,840 World Cup records or things like that. 139 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,120 But there's always a bit of a laugh. 140 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:18,120 There's there's so much love for cricket between both sides and 141 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:21,320 it's just this rivalry is such an incredible rivalry. 142 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,160 And I'm hoping that we see that when this game happens. 143 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:29,080 And I'm hoping we see just the rivalry in the right spirit, 144 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:31,480 which I believe for most of its time it has been. 145 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,360 And you know, it's game. We have fun. 146 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,800 We we enjoy the banter and we watch the game. 147 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:43,440 But I, I, I'd like to hope that we do that while respecting each 148 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,480 other and while remembering that it is just a game and that, you 149 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:50,440 know, our two proud countries share an incredible past and 150 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,200 incredible history. But hopefully also that we can 151 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:58,360 work harder to make a way to share an incredible future based 152 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,520 on, on, on kindness and respect and tolerance for each other. 153 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:06,120 And I want to wish both teams all the best. 154 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,880 And I want to, I want to wish the Indian fans all the best for 155 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,440 not just this game, but for this tournament, playing at home, 156 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,280 another World Cup, you know, incredible Indian side. 157 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:19,720 And I just hope whatever happens on the day, the best team wins 158 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:24,720 and all of us get to enjoy an incredible game and remember how 159 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,400 lucky we are to to follow the teams that we do. 160 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,600 I know that was an incredible voice. 161 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:34,120 Not from now, I was in Qureshi but we ended up chatting after 162 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:37,760 he sent this and and I think he had some more stories so I. 163 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:42,400 Prodded him to send those as well as voice notes so those 164 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,480 follow. You must listen to it in full 165 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:50,200 and and laugh and and and enjoy what time it. 166 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:55,920 Was so, as I mentioned in, in the voice note, I at the stadium 167 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,960 met a gentleman, 2 gentlemen actually, who had come from 168 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:04,520 Delhi and they were watching the match. 169 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:08,640 And I was in the stand which had, I would say about 50% of 170 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:12,040 the stand at Gaddafi Stadium for the first game was Indian and 171 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,280 Pakistani fans. So we were all mixing with each 172 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,720 other. And I remember there were these 173 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:18,960 just before I'd entered the stadium, there were these 174 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,960 Sardarjis outside. And they were asking me that, 175 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,400 you know, after the game, they wanted to take a rickshaw and go 176 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:27,200 somewhere, but they were a bit worried, OK, They wanted to eat 177 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,920 a specific dish. You might be familiar with it 178 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,480 by, you know, goats trotters. But they were worried that they 179 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,400 didn't want to go somewhere where someone would take them 180 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,120 and it could be beef. And I told them in Lahore, you 181 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,800 don't get beef by, you get only goat buyer. 182 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,400 So they were very happy. I spoke to the rickshaw guy. 183 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:47,200 He said, so don't worry, I'll take them. 184 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,720 I got inside. There were these gentlemen from 185 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,240 somewhere in South India. We chatted very briefly. 186 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,840 Their their Hindi wasn't that good, but the English was 187 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:57,760 perfect. And they were a bit worried and 188 00:11:57,760 --> 00:11:59,560 they were asking me, do you know, we have vegetarian 189 00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:01,360 options? So I gave them this is before 190 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,320 social media and all this is 2005. 191 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,200 Some places I wrote down and they were, you know, we had a 192 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,400 wonderful chat. And then I met this gentleman 193 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,880 and his dad. And to this day, he's one of my 194 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,120 closest friends. I speak to him regularly. 195 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:18,200 And his dad had left Lahore in partition at the age of 18, and 196 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,720 it was his first time back in the city of his birth and the 197 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:23,480 city where he had sort of grown up. 198 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,640 And, you know, we spent the next three days taking uncle around, 199 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,360 showing him everywhere. He knew more of law than I did. 200 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:33,880 I moved to law as a teenager. He knew more of law than I did. 201 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,040 And then I insisted that they come over for for lunch to see 202 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:41,040 me meet my family. And, you know, we made a bond as 203 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,120 a family. And then I remember telling my 204 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,920 grandmother, OK, I wasn't sure if my friend Ashutosh and his 205 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,160 father are vegetarian or not, so let's keep some options for both 206 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,040 vegetarian and non vegetarian food. 207 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,080 And my daddy ended up having a lot of food made. 208 00:12:58,680 --> 00:13:01,960 And yet all of it because in Pakistan we're just so used to 209 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:08,360 eating subsea and things together that we made it into. 210 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,680 So when I asked her apnik with sabzi bhunwai and she goes, Hana 211 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:14,680 here, there goes sabzi hai, beti ghost, aloo ghost, gobi ghost, 212 00:13:14,680 --> 00:13:17,960 all made with lab. I say, daddy, that's not sabzi. 213 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,520 Thankfully, they were not vegetarian in this case. 214 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:25,040 But it's it's, it's just the most incredible memory at the 215 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:28,000 Gaddafi Stadium for the 4th and 5th ODIs. 216 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:33,320 I remember it was just an incredible feeling seeing so 217 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,120 many Indian fans walking with us together. 218 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:39,320 You know, people in blue shirts, green shirts walking together, 219 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,000 people meeting each other and speaking to each other. 220 00:13:43,560 --> 00:13:46,280 And we were all walking towards the ground and we all entered 221 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:50,280 and I was in the stand that had a lot of fans from both sides. 222 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:55,040 And my, my overriding memory of that is just watching these 223 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,480 young Pakistani kids. They came up to someone sitting 224 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,400 near me, had an Indian flag. They asked him for his flag. 225 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,280 I think he's a little bit hesitant, but he gave it to them 226 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,400 and they ran around the entire stand just singing, shouting 227 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:11,320 Bharat Maki Jaye, Bharat Maki Jaye, Pakistani Lahore kids with 228 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,560 an Indian flag. And then I remember an entire 229 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:19,520 group of Indian fans, you know, that very famous chant, Sachin 230 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:25,840 Sachin, They would do that and then just spontaneously broke 231 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:30,040 into singing Dil Dil Pakistan, and we all sang along. 232 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,760 And, you know, it's hard to put into words the emotion of that 233 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:37,200 time, the closeness that two countries that have been through 234 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:41,960 so much felt. And it's my overriding memory. 235 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,600 I don't remember the score. I remember just a little bit of 236 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:47,920 the cricket, mostly because Pakistan lost. 237 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:53,560 But these, this is my overriding memory of just two people kind 238 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,480 of like reacquainting themselves with each other. 239 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,520 And this is those kids, Pakistani kids running with the 240 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:03,040 flag and those the Indian fan singing is just something that 241 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,600 will always stay with me. Hi folks, my name is Neha, I'm a 242 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,720 cricket writer and Paul Caster and like many of us, my 243 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,480 relationship with this game is a deeply emotional and personal 244 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,520 one. My initiation to cricket boss 245 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:19,760 during the 2011 Men's ODI World Cup, specifically the semi final 246 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,960 between India and Pakistan. I was young but I remember the 247 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:24,880 energy around that game so vividly. 248 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,800 The tension, the build up, the sense that this was just more 249 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,000 than a match right. It completely captured my 250 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,760 attention and honestly, I haven't looked back since. 251 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,520 I remember my grandfather talking about the significance 252 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:39,480 of an India Pakistan match, but this one really hit different. 253 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,280 And from then on, you know, every ICC event just meant one 254 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,320 thing for me. Is India playing Pakistan? 255 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,600 When is it happening? And like, what kind of game is 256 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:48,800 it going to be? Now, even though India have had, 257 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:51,240 you know, like, an overwhelmingly favorable record 258 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,400 against Pakistan and ICC events, I've never gone into those games 259 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:56,560 feeling like, hey, they are predictable. 260 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:58,400 I feel like this is so much at stake. 261 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,200 Pride, history, narrative, redemption, and just so many 262 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,520 arcs there. The cricket is almost like high 263 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,160 quality because both sides raise their levels. 264 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:08,040 The competition is just undeniable. 265 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,480 But as I grew older, I also became aware of how complicated 266 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:13,600 all of it is. Like the geopolitical tensions 267 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,960 between the two countries, something I didn't fully 268 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,960 understand as a kid, started to just feel heavier. 269 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,200 Later. You realize that these are two 270 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:24,120 nations with a painfully shared history in itself, right? 271 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,040 And cricket then becomes this very symbolic battleground, so 272 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:28,840 to say. And that's confusing because on 273 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,880 one hand it's just sport on and on the other it just clearly 274 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,640 isn't right. There's also the purest in me 275 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,080 that has always thought, imagine if they played like a 276 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,400 full-fledged test series, right? Imagine if we got to see 277 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:43,720 sustained 5 day contest between these sides, The tactical depth, 278 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,160 the individual battles, the long form drama. 279 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,600 I really think we've been deprived of that cricket and it 280 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,600 feels like a loss for the game itself. 281 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,440 OK, before I go on a tangent about that, at the same time I 282 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,520 think the whole discourse right around these matches has often 283 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,160 been very disappointing. I feel that nationalism is 284 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:01,520 something that really gets thrust upon our faces, sometimes 285 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:03,720 subtly, sometimes times aggressively, And I think it 286 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:06,640 just turns the contest into something far more hostile than 287 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:09,680 it sort of needs to be, right? It stops being about, you know, 288 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,319 appreciation of skill and becomes more about just proving 289 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:14,079 superiority. And honestly, like 290 00:17:14,079 --> 00:17:17,440 administrators, broadcasters just haven't helped the 'cause, 291 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:18,839 right? There's always been this 292 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:22,400 tendency to package the rivalry in a very combative, almost 293 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:26,000 caricatured way, reducing complex histories and even 294 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,040 cultures. Like just punch lines and 295 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,320 tropes, campaigns that frame it as a battle of humiliation 296 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:33,400 rather than competition. I think it just feels 297 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,120 unnecessary. It cheapens what is otherwise a 298 00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:39,720 deeply compelling sporting rivalry that has so much more to 299 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:41,800 it, right? I think what I've always loved, 300 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,440 though, are just the moments when no cricket cuts through all 301 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:46,400 of that noise. When you see players, you know, 302 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,440 share radar, exchanging jerseys, acknowledging each other's 303 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,600 brilliance and when fans talk about, you know, cover drivers 304 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,520 fell fast bowling rather than a political headline, that really 305 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,920 stands out to be more right. Again, for me, I think India 306 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,400 versus Pakistan has never been about animosity. 307 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:03,760 It's been about intensity. It's also been like theatre, 308 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:05,640 right? It's been about two incredible 309 00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:09,200 talented cricketing ecosystems just producing players who, you 310 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,240 know, thrive under that kind of pressure. 311 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:14,720 Imagine a billionaires watching you just do something for a 312 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:17,520 living. And maybe that's what I hope we 313 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,520 hold on to, right? The empathy, the understanding 314 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:24,480 that most fans on either side are just people who love the 315 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,000 sport, who grew up with similar memories, similar family watch 316 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,040 parties, watching with friends, experiencing heart breaks and 317 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,640 celebrations. I think we can acknowledge the 318 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,360 tensions, but at the same time we can't pretend that they don't 319 00:18:36,360 --> 00:18:38,120 exist. But we can also choose not to 320 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,240 amplify the worst parts of the discourse. 321 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,480 Because at its best, I think this fixture isn't about 322 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:45,720 division. It's about how powerful sport 323 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,560 can be in bringing out excellence and probably also 324 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,800 creating those shared memories and lived experiences. 325 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,360 And occasionally in reminding us that we're probably not as 326 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:58,520 different as we're told we are. Cheers. 327 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,440 That's all from me folks and hope we have a great match. 328 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:05,200 Not, you know, again, controversy having taken the 329 00:19:05,360 --> 00:19:08,560 center stage. Next up is Rohail Salman. 330 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:13,000 So I grew up unlike most of the people in Pakistan and a family 331 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:16,360 that was not a super big cricket fan. 332 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:21,640 But even in that family in India and Pakistan, match always meant 333 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,200 something, but not in the kind of way that it does now, which 334 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:29,120 is full of this weird material and jingoism and whatnot. 335 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:32,560 I mean, that jingoism always existed, but there's always this 336 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:37,160 sense of sporting rivalry, the sense of respect that both teams 337 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,120 had for for each other, that people on both sides of the 338 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:44,240 border had for each other. And of course there's a lot of 339 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:47,240 baggage of history of when times have gone bad and then cricket 340 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,680 has also gone bad as a result of that. 341 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:54,080 But there's always this camaraderie and this closeness 342 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,920 that you felt with the Indian cricket team that you didn't 343 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:00,360 with any other cricket team, I mean. 344 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:05,480 Australia was probably more hated in my household than the 345 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,080 Indian team was and some of my first sporting memories of 346 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:14,360 Indian Pakistan matches are the 99 World Cup match with India 347 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:19,960 where we obviously lost and how upset everybody was about us 348 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,840 losing to India even though we did end up getting to the final. 349 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:24,200 And then what happened, happened. 350 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:29,560 But that match with India stands out to me as the one match that 351 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:34,280 everybody in my family, men, women, elders, young people, 352 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:39,080 everybody was watching. And that's one of my initial 353 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:43,160 cricket memories as a more conscious adult. 354 00:20:43,760 --> 00:20:48,600 And then another memory that stands out to me as during the 355 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:53,680 2003 world cover about some disastrously got out during the 356 00:20:53,680 --> 00:21:00,320 group stages, but my family after Pakistan was knocked out 357 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:04,320 was all on board for supporting India and backing India. 358 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,840 And India reached the final. And I remember I was at a 359 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:12,000 relative's place and everybody was shocked at how bad the 360 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:21,560 cheese was going for India. And and I remember funnily now 361 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,480 this is something that I strongly remember is then when 362 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:29,440 Mongia came to bed at like 5 down or 6 down and somebody in 363 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:32,160 sitting there in that family gut news, just like, yeah, Mongia 364 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,360 can, Mongia can save India, probably chase this town. 365 00:21:35,360 --> 00:21:38,720 And I knew a little bit more about cricket at that point. 366 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:40,920 And I was just like, yeah, that's that's not going to 367 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:42,760 happen. But that's what I mean to say is 368 00:21:42,760 --> 00:21:47,880 that it was always, if not Pakistan, then maybe India in 369 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:51,720 in, in my family, which was not a huge cricket fan. 370 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:56,160 And then the first time that I remember when India toured 371 00:21:56,160 --> 00:22:01,280 Pakistan in 2003, I was so excited for that. 372 00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:03,400 Everybody in the country was so excited for that. 373 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:06,840 I remember how big of big of an occasion it was that India was 374 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:10,880 touring Pakistan, I think at that point for the first time 375 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:15,240 since I'd been born. And you could feel the amount of 376 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:17,960 excitement and love that everybody had for not just the 377 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:20,400 cricket team visiting, but for the Indians who were visiting 378 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,720 for the matches. And then when that back and 379 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:25,480 forth with India happened a couple of years after that as 380 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:29,680 well, I just remember everybody was so excited about the 381 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,400 cricket. And honestly, the cricket was 382 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,280 great as well. And you had cult heroes during 383 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:40,680 those series. For instance, 2003, I think is 384 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:45,600 when Balaji became a legend in Pakistan for I have absolutely 385 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,320 no idea now why, but he was loved by the crowds in Pakistan. 386 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:54,720 But you know, the past few years especially have just taken the 387 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,440 joy out of the game. And there's so many reasons for 388 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,920 that. It's my relationship with the 389 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:06,480 Pakistan cricket team, but it's also my also watching how 390 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:11,040 everything has been ruined by the amount of politics and 391 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:15,360 severe nationalism and I don't even know what to call it 392 00:23:15,360 --> 00:23:17,320 anymore. But I just feel like the joy in 393 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:21,920 that picture that used to happen just does not exist anymore. 394 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:26,160 And it's just sad to see that an Indian Pakistan match is no 395 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:28,440 longer something that I really look forward to. 396 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,520 But I really wish it goes back to how it used to be when I was 397 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:34,680 younger. Hi, this is Akshay. 398 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:40,240 For all of those people claiming that India versus Pakistan is no 399 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:44,520 longer a big rivalry, I'd be willing to wager a lot of money 400 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:47,480 with them that Surya Kumar Yadav's captaincy could not 401 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,520 survive a loss in this game on Sunday. 402 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:54,720 India versus Pakistan has for long been the greatest rivalry 403 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,000 in sport for me. I remember every single one of 404 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,440 those games, you know, growing up watching it with my family 405 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:05,080 and it was always an entire family affair with everyone 406 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:08,760 involved right from my mom peeking from the kitchen to my 407 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:12,840 dad, like celebrating every single shot that Sachin hit in 408 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:18,160 that epic 2003 clash. India versus Pakistan is is the 409 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:22,720 the greatest legacy definer for all the big players across both 410 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,720 nations. Right from Javed, me and dad's 411 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,680 you know legendary 6 from Shohi Bhaktar's, you know, 412 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:33,440 back-to-back wickets in India getting Rahul, Dravid and Sachin 413 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:35,800 out. From Sachin hitting those 414 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:39,680 massive sixes over third man against Shohi Bhaktar, you know 415 00:24:40,120 --> 00:24:44,480 Virender Sehwag hitting that epic triple 100 and right to 416 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:47,040 Virat Kohli that knock in Melbourne. 417 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:51,080 When you will think of these players at the end of their 418 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:55,200 career, most likely the first game or first moment of their 419 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,160 careers that you remember is going to be an incident from a 420 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,560 very famous India versus Pakistan match. 421 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:05,280 It's it's the game in. Sport that always transcends 422 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,440 sport. It's it's always a little bit 423 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:11,800 more no matter what. And it's the game in which, as 424 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:13,600 as they say, with all epic rivalries. 425 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:15,320 You can throw form out of the window. 426 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,480 Anything can happen on any given day. 427 00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:21,480 It's always a game that, you know, I personally look forward 428 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:22,800 to. I know it's going to be a good 429 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,920 game. I hope for both sides sake that 430 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,640 there is a handshake this time and we can, you know, kind of 431 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,760 get back to the typical fashion of how an India Pakistan game 432 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:37,920 should be played. Because I kind of see it more as 433 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:42,600 a game where, you know, how all of us have that one relative or 434 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:46,640 family member who you absolutely love to hate and you never want 435 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:49,160 to lose against. That's I mean, I feel like 436 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:52,520 that's kind of how the India versus Pakistan games always 437 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:56,200 were growing up. And you know, just fantastic, 438 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,600 fabulous clash. Always, always a great game to 439 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:02,920 look forward to. The next voice note is from Asad 440 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:04,480 Hassan. Over to you, Asad. 441 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,880 Hello. Everybody thinking back about 442 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:11,440 golden Pakistan, India, memories, I think it starts back 443 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,040 from Sharjah when I first started to fall in love with the 444 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,360 game. Thinking back to Sharjah Friday, 445 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:20,880 the lead up into finals for Seema Kamalukar, you know, on 446 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:24,320 our side, Sachin, on the opposite side, Muhammad 447 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:27,440 Azarine's wrist work, it's her Amazon commentary. 448 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:33,160 Just just remember the sheer passion that I felt in that era. 449 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,760 I think the first heartbreak of my life was actually Bangalore 450 00:26:37,240 --> 00:26:39,800 and I never quite understood what this tension was about. 451 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:43,520 But I remember my father sitting there with a notebook and he had 452 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:47,880 like 287 runs written on his notebook and he was crossing out 453 00:26:48,360 --> 00:26:51,000 each run as Pakistan scored them. 454 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,160 Of course, we ended up losing and facing the biggest 455 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:57,560 heartbreak of our lives. But it was never rancorous. 456 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,800 It was never, it was never. It was not about animosity. 457 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,240 It was just a general cricketing rivalry which I absolutely 458 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:05,840 loved. After that I remember Sahara 459 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:10,800 cups, you know, we games happening in Canada and waking 460 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,000 up the next morning watching highlights on PTV. 461 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:19,800 Such wonderful, wonderful, crazy tension filled games with the 462 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:23,280 Salmi, Malek, Sushi, Mukrams, the Sachins, the Sakland, the 463 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:27,840 sort of Gangulys of the world. And I just remember it was 464 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:31,880 always, these were just like bilateral series with not a lot 465 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:33,400 of context. But because it was India, 466 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:37,000 Pakistan, it was always very, very, it was full of tension and 467 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:40,640 stress. And then the, the daddy of all 468 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:44,480 games, the Chennai Test match in 1999, what a golden, golden 469 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:46,920 memory. Just the fact that that series 470 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:51,120 went ahead and but then the the lead in the the leader between 471 00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:53,480 the series was all about trying to cancel the series. 472 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:57,160 But somehow it went ahead. And everything that happened on 473 00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:01,760 the field was a celebration of why cricket is such an amazing 474 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:05,600 sport and why cricket in these two countries can always, you 475 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:10,120 know, mend so many fences. Because you think back to that 476 00:28:10,120 --> 00:28:13,680 game and it was an amazing game in terms of the exhibition of 477 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:19,680 skill set with Sashaid Afridi, such an unbelievable 100 Wasim 478 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,360 Atram on the last day doing amazing things with the ball. 479 00:28:22,360 --> 00:28:27,000 Anil Kumble, I think Prasad got a lot of wickets as well. 480 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,040 There was some real topsy turvy moments in that game with a 481 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,360 complete drama from start to finish and you could never pick 482 00:28:34,360 --> 00:28:35,680 a winner. As soon as you started to get 483 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:38,000 comfortable, something would change in that game. 484 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:40,800 It's easily the best Test match that I've ever seen. 485 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:45,200 But the thing that made it even greater was the ending to that 486 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:50,560 game and the when the Pakistan team eventually won, they sensed 487 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,240 that this was a crowd very different from normal crowds. 488 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:56,240 And they started to take a victory lap and the entire 489 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,720 Chennai Stadium got up on their feet and started applauding the 490 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:04,200 Pakistani cricket team. To think this was a reaction 491 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:08,400 from a crowd when two or two or three, two weeks before this, a 492 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:11,720 pitch had been dug up in Delhi, if I'm not mistaken. 493 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:16,840 Now you think the the sheer contrast of emotions that ended 494 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:20,760 up in Chennai and then the voice over from Harsha Bogle as that, 495 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:25,120 as that victory rap was happening, just amazing, amazing 496 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:27,600 memories. And then you're thinking 497 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,960 forward. I think back in 2003 World Cup 498 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:35,000 at the height of tension between India and Pakistan, Ganguly and 499 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:37,520 Wakar shaking hands. I think they were exchanging 500 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,080 some gifts at the start of the game. 501 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:44,160 Then 2004 five the seas happened, India toward Pakistan 502 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:47,640 and there was this outpouring of love from Pakistan, the crowd 503 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:51,760 chanting Balaji's name. And even though Pakistan lost 504 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,440 the series, both the Test matches in the one days, it just 505 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:58,600 felt like a festival of cricket. And it almost felt like the 506 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:02,440 whole goal that sees was to make sure that everybody has a good 507 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:06,720 time and that we show the best of our hosting spirit to the 508 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:08,960 Indians. That's what I remember. 509 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:11,480 That's the India, Pakistan rivalry that I remember. 510 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:15,040 And then suddenly things have started to go South worse and 511 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:17,920 worse to an extent that our teams don't even shake each 512 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:22,720 other's hands on the field. But there is an entire history, 513 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,120 an entire legacy of Pakistani, Indian friendships. 514 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:29,160 You think back to that series that Pakistan played in India 515 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,760 where we had Shahrukh Khan hosting A cricketing, an event 516 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:38,120 where he had these players coming on stage and dancing and 517 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:44,240 like in general, just a very comfortable group of players who 518 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,840 all got along with each other. That's the India Pakistan 519 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:50,600 rivalry that I remember that even though they were, they 520 00:30:50,600 --> 00:30:53,440 fought fiercely on the field. They were the best of friends 521 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:56,000 off the field. And you could feel that love 522 00:30:56,120 --> 00:31:00,040 even until recently when Kohli was there, even when Kohli and 523 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:01,800 Shahab were having memes made of them. 524 00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,640 That's the India, Pakistan that I remember and treasure and I 525 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:06,960 really hope we can go back to that. 526 00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:18,000 Hi, I'm sorry, mid 90s cricket India, Pakistan Majesty 527 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:23,440 Pakistan. Team. 528 00:31:24,520 --> 00:32:05,640 Those teams are both infatuated. Or when he pay Pakistan team 529 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:23,840 sari playbook. And then once again, just be 530 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:44,480 across the line or sense of attractiveness. 531 00:32:50,960 --> 00:33:20,040 They were going through the best period in the 90s to specific 532 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:23,440 matches to Hamesha, David versus Goliath. 533 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:29,720 He fight at least to natural inclination time in a team to 534 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:39,560 support Karneka, not just keep but also I think. 535 00:33:45,000 --> 00:34:12,840 Independence Cup final non Indian style of play 1 down. 536 00:34:14,199 --> 00:34:25,440 That's one memory that's edged very deeply in my mind. 537 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:50,199 Second is I think which flashes. Or usne Indian public may T 20 538 00:34:52,760 --> 00:35:07,560 kijo welcome Mila format goes victory I think Pakistan cop 539 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:16,280 final you get that open bus tour for you see it's called Ulta 540 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:18,840 Jehuwatha will be a coffee memorable moment. 541 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:23,520 Dosa Sotraki Champions Trophy final May Pakistan was that 542 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:29,240 David and we were the Goliath in more than one ways, not just in 543 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:32,520 the strength that we possessed on the field but also our 544 00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:33,680 conduct of the. Field. 545 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:50,080 Match important this rivalry man fierce John Foo DT mundane 546 00:35:51,800 --> 00:36:01,440 quality difference. So is what you say with 547 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:05,200 Champions Trophy the final both important or once again, 548 00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:09,880 watching David beat the crap out of Goliath is always, you know, 549 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:12,520 very heartening. You tend to relate to that 550 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:15,840 victory or whether he was match maybe who were. 551 00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:19,080 So these were some of the moments which are very close to 552 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:20,120 my heart. There are many more. 553 00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:26,080 But then again, yeah, these three come to my mind at the 554 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:32,520 moment. Sasani I grew up in Karachi 555 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:36,480 until I was 10 and then Saudi Arabia until I was 17. 556 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:40,440 And so a lot of my, I guess early memories of watching 557 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:45,160 cricket were there. And I'm guessing like most of 558 00:36:45,160 --> 00:36:49,880 us, it was my Abu, my father, who, you know, really got me 559 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:51,680 into cricket. I remember being obsessed with 560 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:55,160 cricket as a kid. My brother took me to a live 561 00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:57,680 game when I was I think 4 years old in Karachi National Stadium 562 00:36:57,680 --> 00:37:01,200 and he told me I was transfixed. You know, I couldn't, I didn't 563 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:02,480 want to talk, I don't want to do anything. 564 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:04,560 I just was staring at the pitch and just loved it. 565 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:11,480 My earliest memories of watching India, Pakistan games, they're 566 00:37:11,480 --> 00:37:15,080 not that many, at least in Pakistan, because I remember the 567 00:37:15,080 --> 00:37:18,480 92 World Cup happened while I was in Pakistan and that's my 568 00:37:18,480 --> 00:37:22,280 first World Cup. The memories are vague. 569 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:25,040 I think a lot of my memories now are of that World Cup performed 570 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:29,840 by watching Imran's Tigers, the the tape over and over and over 571 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:32,880 again. And so I don't have any memories 572 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:37,680 from 92 of watching the India game and then we moved to Saudi 573 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:39,720 Arabia. And then I want remember 96 574 00:37:39,720 --> 00:37:42,640 World Cup and I remember that game very well and just being 575 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:45,680 very disappointed. So you know, nothing really 576 00:37:45,680 --> 00:37:48,760 outside of that. But thinking about this question 577 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:53,400 of into Pakistan games and memories as a kid, I remember my 578 00:37:53,400 --> 00:37:56,120 father who was born, pre partitioned. 579 00:37:56,120 --> 00:38:00,560 So he was born in Patna and moved to Pakistan I think in 51. 580 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:02,840 So he would have been around 10 years old by them. 581 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:06,520 And I think at the time there was, you know, a lot of movement 582 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:09,000 back and forth. So it wasn't as hard as it is 583 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:12,640 now, sadly, to move between Pakistan and India. 584 00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:15,480 So and many of his family are still in India. 585 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:20,040 So I remember growing up as a kid with, you know, a sense of 586 00:38:20,040 --> 00:38:24,040 rivalry with Indian cricket through my father, you know, 587 00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:28,600 through growing up in Pakistan, but never really an animosity. 588 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:31,200 If anything, there was a lot of mutual respect. 589 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:39,200 And my father would had a lot of tape recordings of old games, 590 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:40,840 classic games. They were highlights. 591 00:38:40,840 --> 00:38:43,320 They weren't live, obviously, but it would be. 592 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:49,880 I remember Imran Khan's spell in Karachi, I think in 82. 593 00:38:50,720 --> 00:38:53,280 It was a magical spell and getting Gavaskar. 594 00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:55,560 And for my father was always Gavaskar. 595 00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:57,320 There was so much mutual respect for him. 596 00:38:57,320 --> 00:39:01,160 But also, you know, he would always talk about how annoying 597 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:03,520 it was that Gavaskar's defense was still good. 598 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:06,880 And it was always you had to get Gavaskar in order to get to 599 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:10,080 India. And, you know, I remember 600 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:15,120 watching the tapes of Imran's spell and breaking through 601 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:20,080 Gavaskar. And the other one was, I think 602 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:25,160 1987, you know, for Pakistani fans, you know, very famous 603 00:39:25,160 --> 00:39:28,800 victory of defeating India in India in the Bangalore Test. 604 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:32,280 And then I think it was Nassif Ahmed and Iqbal Qasim. 605 00:39:32,360 --> 00:39:34,400 And obviously, you know, at the time I was too young to know 606 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:37,400 this, but watching the tapes later, my father would always 607 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:40,920 talk about it. And again, it was never, there 608 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:46,480 was never really any animosity. And for a lot of people like my 609 00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:49,720 parents, they, you know, they still had family on the other 610 00:39:49,720 --> 00:39:53,880 side of the border. I still have, we have photos. 611 00:39:53,880 --> 00:39:56,560 I was going through my parents photos actually recently. 612 00:39:56,560 --> 00:40:00,560 And there's so many beautiful photos of my parents and I think 613 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:04,880 the 70s, maybe even the 60s, but 70s for sure. 614 00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:08,760 Travelling around India, my mother's family originally comes 615 00:40:08,760 --> 00:40:13,920 from New Delhi and so travelling around India and my older 616 00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:18,280 siblings, I'm the youngest of five, they all, you know, got to 617 00:40:18,280 --> 00:40:23,280 go and see my father's side of the family that remained in 618 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:26,640 Bihar and then later moved to Delhi. 619 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:28,400 But yeah, that are still in India. 620 00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:32,320 But then also just going around, travelling around. 621 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:34,640 And I was my sister and I were the younger too. 622 00:40:35,240 --> 00:40:37,440 We never got to go. And we always, you know, felt 623 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:41,800 jealous of their trips and the amazing stories they all had. 624 00:40:43,240 --> 00:40:46,600 And so for me, those are the memories that really stick out 625 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:49,000 as a kid. Is is nothing to do with 626 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:52,960 animosity or hatred. It was all of respect, rivalry, 627 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:55,640 for sure. I'm not going to pretend that, 628 00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:57,840 you know, I always wanted us to beat India. 629 00:40:57,840 --> 00:40:59,480 Then I would get really annoyed if he didn't. 630 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:03,720 But there was never any anger or hatred towards any of the 631 00:41:03,720 --> 00:41:06,720 players or fans. And then when I moved to Saudi 632 00:41:06,720 --> 00:41:09,640 Arabia, the other thing was that in places like Saudi Arabia or 633 00:41:09,640 --> 00:41:11,840 the US, etcetera, you're surrounded by other day season 634 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:15,880 In my compound, I'd play cricket with the Kashmiri from the 635 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:17,520 Indian side. Actually, I think connected to 636 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:23,200 the the fabric of the love family and then Indian friends 637 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:24,920 and we'd all play cricket together. 638 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:28,320 We were the cricket playing kids in the compounds. 639 00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:33,120 So yeah, those are my memories. Hello everyone, I'm the person 640 00:41:33,120 --> 00:41:35,200 behind the Twitter handle Shabadatta 11. 641 00:41:35,640 --> 00:41:39,080 So my memories of India versus Pakistan actually are pretty 642 00:41:39,080 --> 00:41:41,560 painful. All throughout my growing years, 643 00:41:41,560 --> 00:41:45,760 when I was mad about cricket, India never really beat Pakistan 644 00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:49,120 the 1st. And it started with that 645 00:41:49,120 --> 00:41:53,160 infamous Australasia Cup final, the Javed Miyadat, Jaitan Sharma 646 00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:56,280 final. And it's even more painful 647 00:41:56,280 --> 00:41:59,880 because my family, which is a football crazy family, had just 648 00:41:59,880 --> 00:42:04,000 bought our color TV in anticipation of the 1986 Mexico 649 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:06,280 World Cup. And this was one of the first 650 00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:09,600 live sports events that I was watching on TV at home. 651 00:42:10,160 --> 00:42:15,760 And I remember feeling OK through the day because India 652 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:20,960 had played well, battered well, and the match was going in our 653 00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:23,320 favor. And then it was only Javed 654 00:42:23,320 --> 00:42:26,440 Miyada who stood tall on one side. 655 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:31,200 And then that last ball, 6. I don't think I really ever, you 656 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:35,320 know, managed to exercise that painful memory in spite of 657 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:39,680 whatever happened after that. And again in those days, the 658 00:42:39,680 --> 00:42:44,760 memories of Sharjah from random losses to things like Aqib 659 00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:50,240 Javed's hat trick to with three LBWS, all of which were shady to 660 00:42:50,320 --> 00:42:53,480 India. Pakistan test series is where I 661 00:42:53,480 --> 00:42:56,720 mean, first four tests were so boring. 662 00:42:57,240 --> 00:43:00,640 I remember one of those days, the first day, Pakistan battered 663 00:43:00,640 --> 00:43:03,400 the entire day, and at the end of the day, they were at 1:30 664 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:06,920 for four. And even now I kind of doubted 665 00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:09,600 that memory that is it really possible for somebody to back 666 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:11,760 that slowly? And I went back to that 667 00:43:12,600 --> 00:43:16,160 scorecard and yes, not only were Pakistan 1:30 for four at the 668 00:43:16,160 --> 00:43:19,840 end of day one, there were 379 for seven or something for at 669 00:43:19,840 --> 00:43:24,640 the end of Day 2, they'd scored at the rate of about two runs 670 00:43:24,640 --> 00:43:29,120 per over for two days. And then that same series had 671 00:43:29,120 --> 00:43:33,280 the last Test in Bangalore, which again I remember pretty 672 00:43:33,560 --> 00:43:38,040 vividly because it was Gavaskar standing on one side and Tossif 673 00:43:38,040 --> 00:43:41,520 and Iqbal just running right on the other side. 674 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:48,280 So that's how it all began. One of the first pleasant 675 00:43:48,280 --> 00:43:52,920 memories was probably the 92 group stage match in the World 676 00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:56,000 Cup. The again Javed me, others 677 00:43:56,000 --> 00:44:00,760 jumping Kiran more fighting with him and then the win. 678 00:44:01,680 --> 00:44:04,480 Let's not forget that win was still overshadowed by the fact 679 00:44:04,480 --> 00:44:12,200 that Pakistan went on to win the tournament 96 again, such a 680 00:44:12,200 --> 00:44:15,360 brilliant win followed up immediately by the in gardens 681 00:44:15,360 --> 00:44:18,200 and final loss to Sri Lanka. So it's really that all 682 00:44:18,200 --> 00:44:20,360 throughout that period, it was never really that India. 683 00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:22,960 Pakistan have has pleasant memories for me. 684 00:44:23,880 --> 00:44:27,520 And of course, let's not forget that it was easy to hate 685 00:44:27,520 --> 00:44:30,160 Pakistan at that time. Not only were they the better 686 00:44:30,160 --> 00:44:33,800 team, their swing bowling, the fast bowling was something that 687 00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:38,400 really didn't understand and that made it seem like black 688 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:42,640 magic. And also the stories of Shakur, 689 00:44:42,640 --> 00:44:46,400 Rana and Mike getting kind of made, made it easy for us to 690 00:44:46,520 --> 00:44:51,880 hate them. However, I would say that things 691 00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:55,600 started turning nice after the mid 90s. 692 00:44:56,040 --> 00:45:00,560 The wins in Toronto, Saurabh Ganguly is you know, man of the 693 00:45:00,560 --> 00:45:05,440 series performances and by then slowly the international 694 00:45:05,440 --> 00:45:08,400 tournament record getting better really helped. 695 00:45:10,120 --> 00:45:13,720 If someone had told me when I was a child that there will be a 696 00:45:13,720 --> 00:45:17,720 time that India would not only be the better team as compared 697 00:45:17,720 --> 00:45:20,160 to Pakistan, but we would also be winning against them 698 00:45:20,160 --> 00:45:23,360 regularly in tournaments, I would have pretty much laughed 699 00:45:23,360 --> 00:45:25,200 on their face, not believing it at all. 700 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:30,080 But the irony of the situation is that while that's true, as of 701 00:45:30,080 --> 00:45:35,760 today, I can't even enjoy it. My problems with BCCI and 702 00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:40,160 India's bullying attitude towards cricket makes it 703 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:43,920 impossible for me to really love what this team does. 704 00:45:43,920 --> 00:45:48,520 It's difficult to separate the two and therefore, while as I 705 00:45:48,520 --> 00:45:52,240 said, I've lost interest in cricket, it's a matter of just 706 00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:55,200 following the results. But beyond that, I really don't 707 00:45:55,200 --> 00:46:01,000 think I have sat and watched live matches to enjoy them and 708 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:06,240 that is something that hurts me, but so be it. 709 00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:13,240 When I spoke of the core cricketing memories I have about 710 00:46:13,240 --> 00:46:17,520 India and Pakistan, there are two influences that I must talk 711 00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:24,560 about, which helped me outgrow my views of India versus 712 00:46:24,560 --> 00:46:28,920 Pakistan as a purely enemy, enmity driven, you know, 713 00:46:28,920 --> 00:46:33,200 rivalry. The first was my aunt. 714 00:46:33,760 --> 00:46:38,360 Now, on the day of her marriage to my uncle, I'd gone to her 715 00:46:38,360 --> 00:46:40,600 house with the traditional gifts and all of that. 716 00:46:41,160 --> 00:46:47,840 And in her room I remember seeing posters of Imran Khan, 717 00:46:47,920 --> 00:46:52,320 Zahir Abbas, Dilip Bengsarkar and Wasim Akram. 718 00:46:53,040 --> 00:46:59,240 And it had shocked me at that point of time that how do you 719 00:46:59,240 --> 00:47:01,320 have posters of so many Pakistani cricketers in the 720 00:47:01,320 --> 00:47:03,400 house. And I remember asking her about 721 00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:04,960 it and she was like I love cricket. 722 00:47:05,320 --> 00:47:09,400 These are all great cricketers. That was one. 723 00:47:09,600 --> 00:47:12,520 The other is a far recent incident. 724 00:47:12,960 --> 00:47:16,520 About some time back, my mother-in-law actually 725 00:47:16,520 --> 00:47:21,680 introduced us to this TV channel called Z Zindagi which telecast 726 00:47:22,480 --> 00:47:26,240 Pakistani dramas. The politics aside, the channel 727 00:47:26,240 --> 00:47:30,600 being owned by an BJPMP which made money by telecasting 728 00:47:30,600 --> 00:47:34,200 Pakistani dramas. But again, the channel no longer 729 00:47:34,200 --> 00:47:40,320 exists, but the the way we got addicted to those serials is 730 00:47:40,320 --> 00:47:41,880 something that we still watch now. 731 00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:45,920 And more than anything else, those serials tell us that how 732 00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:50,720 in spite of the border, the people, the circumstances, 733 00:47:51,160 --> 00:47:54,760 everything, just the milieu, all of it is so similar. 734 00:47:55,240 --> 00:48:01,640 And these two really influences really helped me re examine my 735 00:48:01,640 --> 00:48:06,280 own biases and therefore look at this, you know, game on a far 736 00:48:06,280 --> 00:48:10,880 more. Hi guys, Silva here, big fan of 737 00:48:10,880 --> 00:48:14,520 the BCCF podcast. Where do I start? 738 00:48:14,520 --> 00:48:17,840 My earliest memory of an India Pakistan match was the me and 739 00:48:17,840 --> 00:48:20,400 dad match in Australasia Cup final. 740 00:48:20,920 --> 00:48:24,600 The one that made him a person a non greater across the country 741 00:48:24,600 --> 00:48:28,120 and probably made Chetan Sharma as well till it and it took him 742 00:48:28,720 --> 00:48:31,520 a year and a World Cup hat trick to kind of redeem that. 743 00:48:31,520 --> 00:48:35,600 A few months after that, or I don't know, it's it, it 744 00:48:35,600 --> 00:48:39,120 probably, it was probably 5-6 months after that. 745 00:48:39,520 --> 00:48:43,600 It was one of the one of the most cherished memories that I 746 00:48:43,600 --> 00:48:48,360 have is going to a Test match in Chair Park. 747 00:48:48,720 --> 00:48:52,600 Probably the earliest Test match that I remember very vividly 748 00:48:53,160 --> 00:48:57,880 called a couple of days that I went was the, you know, the Test 749 00:48:57,880 --> 00:48:59,880 match in Jay Pog. It was a draw. 750 00:48:59,880 --> 00:49:02,840 But you know, I, I got to see Wasim Bol. 751 00:49:02,840 --> 00:49:05,200 I got to see Imran Bol in person. 752 00:49:05,480 --> 00:49:07,720 And I think it was probably the first time I was seeing couple 753 00:49:07,720 --> 00:49:12,320 day Bol in person. It was and and there was this I 754 00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:16,600 remember a huge partnership that Imran and Wasim had. 755 00:49:16,600 --> 00:49:20,040 It was it was just amazing. And Chica scored a century as 756 00:49:20,040 --> 00:49:22,880 well. That was probably my, you know, 757 00:49:23,280 --> 00:49:29,040 most vivid memories that I have of, you know, first, first time 758 00:49:29,080 --> 00:49:31,480 in the ground watching a Test match. 759 00:49:31,560 --> 00:49:35,640 And then you know, after that, I think we were just it was just 760 00:49:35,640 --> 00:49:41,640 all the one days that the two teams used to play in Sharjah 761 00:49:42,040 --> 00:49:45,480 pretty much. And of course interspersed with 762 00:49:45,480 --> 00:49:51,760 the World Cup games, which always had some drama or other 763 00:49:51,760 --> 00:49:59,120 92 with the Neanderth and Kieran Moore and and the 96 Lakar 764 00:49:59,160 --> 00:50:03,080 Jadeja Sohail and Prasad, the drama. 765 00:50:03,920 --> 00:50:07,880 And I was there in person to witness, you know, 2 of amazing 766 00:50:07,920 --> 00:50:10,680 Knox. The Sidon was 194. 767 00:50:10,680 --> 00:50:17,160 And then in the one day final and the and of course Sachin's 768 00:50:17,160 --> 00:50:20,920 Greek tragedy at Chepauk in 1999. 769 00:50:21,160 --> 00:50:24,040 That series itself was amazing. I mean, each test had something. 770 00:50:24,040 --> 00:50:28,520 I mean, you had this and then you had you had the, you know, 771 00:50:28,520 --> 00:50:32,600 Shoy bhaktar doing a Pat Cummins in Matera to in 20 November 772 00:50:32,600 --> 00:50:39,160 192023 to eat in gardens with that twin deliveries to traveled 773 00:50:39,160 --> 00:50:42,160 and such. And so and then, you know, 774 00:50:42,160 --> 00:50:47,000 followed by Kumble's ten first. So, you know, after that, I 775 00:50:47,000 --> 00:50:52,280 guess it was all just the ODI is in, you know, pretty much till 776 00:50:52,280 --> 00:50:58,880 the manic Sachin knock and 2003, followed by probably the 777 00:50:58,880 --> 00:51:05,000 greatest Test series that we played in the 2000s. 778 00:51:05,840 --> 00:51:08,800 I mean, of course, we had the England series and the Australia 779 00:51:09,200 --> 00:51:14,720 2003 as well. But the 2006 Pakistan series was 780 00:51:14,840 --> 00:51:19,040 is, you know, I may have a slight bias to it because of, 781 00:51:20,200 --> 00:51:24,120 you know, brawls pundits of Pakistan as well. 782 00:51:24,840 --> 00:51:29,240 But yeah, you know, that series and the series followed 783 00:51:29,280 --> 00:51:33,560 following that in India, probably the last Test series 784 00:51:33,560 --> 00:51:37,880 that the two teams played. It's a shame considering, you 785 00:51:37,880 --> 00:51:41,080 know, how exciting all of that was. 786 00:51:41,120 --> 00:51:45,720 And yeah, you know, after that it was, it was the, of course, 787 00:51:45,720 --> 00:51:51,400 the, the Misbah scoop distinctly remember where you were, you 788 00:51:51,400 --> 00:51:56,680 know, exactly what you did. And then the, you know, followed 789 00:51:56,680 --> 00:51:59,080 that. After that, I think we, we, the 790 00:51:59,080 --> 00:52:01,680 number of matches kind of dwindled anyway. 791 00:52:01,680 --> 00:52:07,840 And I think we played what the semi final and, and I, I mean 792 00:52:07,840 --> 00:52:10,840 that semi final just kind of special to me because I had AI 793 00:52:10,840 --> 00:52:14,160 had AI was in Abu Dhabi and there was at a client side, 794 00:52:14,160 --> 00:52:17,240 there was this Pakistani colleague and he had, he was a 795 00:52:17,240 --> 00:52:20,360 huge Sachin fan and he had invited me home. 796 00:52:21,200 --> 00:52:24,360 I, I watched just the India innings at his place. 797 00:52:24,360 --> 00:52:29,120 And it was, you know, that was a special occasion as well. 798 00:52:29,440 --> 00:52:35,360 You know, probably the the last, you know, I probably the last 799 00:52:35,360 --> 00:52:39,400 match that I was kind of I had any emotional investment to 800 00:52:39,400 --> 00:52:43,880 India, Pakistan matches and you know, really wanting otherwise. 801 00:52:43,880 --> 00:52:46,800 I don't remember most of the matches after that. 802 00:52:46,800 --> 00:52:50,760 I mean, of course you remember the Champions Trophy final here 803 00:52:50,760 --> 00:52:55,520 and you know, and the other T20 match that you played. 804 00:52:55,520 --> 00:52:59,800 But, you know, you vaguely remember anything after that, 805 00:52:59,800 --> 00:53:05,560 not just because the, you know, quality of the matches having 806 00:53:05,560 --> 00:53:09,480 kind of gone down a bit, but then, you know, also because the 807 00:53:09,480 --> 00:53:14,600 narratives around the matches have been in, you know, anything 808 00:53:14,600 --> 00:53:18,040 but savoury. So yeah, I'm, I'm probably going 809 00:53:18,040 --> 00:53:21,160 to watch. It's kind of a sad day moment, 810 00:53:21,160 --> 00:53:24,640 but yeah, I'm probably going to watch the last hour of the 811 00:53:24,640 --> 00:53:28,600 Sunday game at best because I have something else for 812 00:53:28,600 --> 00:53:31,960 tomorrow. Hopefully doesn't gain, unless 813 00:53:31,960 --> 00:53:35,040 it doesn't, you know, get rained out. 814 00:53:36,400 --> 00:53:40,320 And hopefully the event, if the match happens, the players have 815 00:53:40,320 --> 00:53:45,160 the decency and good sense to shake hands on the pitch when 816 00:53:45,160 --> 00:53:49,040 the game is over. It's a shame this is all I've 817 00:53:49,040 --> 00:53:53,960 kind of started to expect from out of a game, out of a match 818 00:53:53,960 --> 00:53:56,160 that's supposed to be a cricket match. 819 00:53:56,160 --> 00:54:00,000 That everyone, you know, we're all supposed to watch it for the 820 00:54:00,000 --> 00:54:03,160 sport anyway. Here we are Thanks, guys. 821 00:54:03,280 --> 00:54:04,520 Enjoy the match. Yeah. 822 00:54:04,520 --> 00:54:10,720 So it's sad because, you know, obviously the the matches that 823 00:54:11,040 --> 00:54:14,520 used to happen, we're always have always been intense. 824 00:54:14,520 --> 00:54:18,640 They've always been, you know, jingoistic nonsense from both 825 00:54:18,640 --> 00:54:21,320 sides. And, you know, it's always been 826 00:54:21,320 --> 00:54:24,560 the case, given the history and given everything that's 827 00:54:24,560 --> 00:54:29,480 happened. So none of that was shocking or 828 00:54:29,480 --> 00:54:33,280 none of that was surprising. But what has happened, what used 829 00:54:33,280 --> 00:54:36,920 to happen even even in the heights of all those was, you 830 00:54:36,920 --> 00:54:41,240 know, you always had stories like, you know, Ramiz Raja on 831 00:54:41,240 --> 00:54:44,800 commentary talking about how Imran Khan would instruct him. 832 00:54:44,800 --> 00:54:49,240 And Rezwan Zaman, if I remember to to kind of feel that silly 833 00:54:49,240 --> 00:54:53,280 point and forward shot leg in that Sunil Gavaskar's last Test 834 00:54:53,280 --> 00:54:56,400 match at Bangalore where he scored that. 835 00:54:57,600 --> 00:54:59,480 We lost that Test against Pakistan. 836 00:54:59,480 --> 00:55:03,920 But you know, there was this minefield of Bangalore 837 00:55:04,600 --> 00:55:10,040 Chinnaswamy wicket and and Imran apparently told Rameez and 838 00:55:10,040 --> 00:55:13,520 Rizwan to just stand and silly point and forward short legged 839 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:16,800 with an explicit instruction that look, you guys are not 840 00:55:16,800 --> 00:55:21,400 going to get catches. Just watch the master and learn 841 00:55:21,760 --> 00:55:24,520 how to play on a minefield wicket on the last day, right. 842 00:55:24,520 --> 00:55:29,200 So so you know, from there to you had you had NZ, you know, 843 00:55:29,200 --> 00:55:34,160 Naveed Olasen talking about how NZ was like, you know, chiding 844 00:55:34,160 --> 00:55:38,320 at him for giving a send off to Sachin and he had to go and 845 00:55:38,320 --> 00:55:41,640 apologize to to all the stories that the players used to share 846 00:55:41,640 --> 00:55:45,480 about, you know, going to each other's, you know, being invited 847 00:55:45,480 --> 00:55:47,840 to each other's houses whenever they were touring. 848 00:55:47,840 --> 00:55:51,200 So you know, that is what you would expect from normal human 849 00:55:51,200 --> 00:55:53,800 beings, you know, countries being at war as countries being 850 00:55:53,800 --> 00:55:56,120 at war. But you know, you're normal 851 00:55:56,120 --> 00:55:58,720 human beings. You're just supposed to that is 852 00:55:58,720 --> 00:56:02,560 the normal you are supposed to. And you also, you know, as even 853 00:56:02,560 --> 00:56:07,560 as recently, you know, Virat and the kind of respect that the 854 00:56:07,560 --> 00:56:13,960 Pakistani players, you know, I think he was he, he got the, the 855 00:56:13,960 --> 00:56:17,720 players, you know, kind of surrounded and to get advice and 856 00:56:17,720 --> 00:56:19,520 all that. It was really nice to see and, 857 00:56:19,520 --> 00:56:24,040 you know, given despite everything going around and 858 00:56:24,920 --> 00:56:28,720 which is why whatever has happened is kind of, you know, 859 00:56:28,800 --> 00:56:31,840 really sad to watch. Hi, my name is Raghav 860 00:56:31,840 --> 00:56:34,160 Bichandani. I'm a journalist currently in 861 00:56:34,160 --> 00:56:39,080 between jobs and I started watching cricket around the time 862 00:56:39,080 --> 00:56:43,840 I was maybe 6 years old. There was the 2003 Cricket 863 00:56:43,840 --> 00:56:47,360 World, Men's Cricket World Cup. I had one of these pocket 864 00:56:47,360 --> 00:56:51,160 schedules just detailing the whole tournament, starting off 865 00:56:51,160 --> 00:56:53,040 with the South Africa, West Indies game. 866 00:56:53,560 --> 00:56:57,760 So, so that's where my like journey of, of being a cricket 867 00:56:57,760 --> 00:56:59,880 fan and watching cricket had started. 868 00:57:01,680 --> 00:57:04,600 It took a while for I think for me to actually sit and watch my 869 00:57:04,600 --> 00:57:07,280 First India, Pakistan game. I think it would have been a 870 00:57:07,280 --> 00:57:09,480 bilateral back then. That part I don't fully 871 00:57:09,480 --> 00:57:13,760 remember, but I think it was during that period of 2000 and 872 00:57:13,760 --> 00:57:18,600 four, 2005 where it seemed every six months or every year there 873 00:57:18,600 --> 00:57:22,640 was a big bilateral series either in India or in Pakistan. 874 00:57:23,880 --> 00:57:26,160 It's over 20 years ago. Feels feels like a world away, 875 00:57:26,160 --> 00:57:29,120 feels like it wouldn't be allowed these days. 876 00:57:30,680 --> 00:57:36,120 But the first I'll say real like clear memory in a positive way 877 00:57:36,120 --> 00:57:38,120 of of watching the two teams go at. 878 00:57:38,120 --> 00:57:41,640 It was also the first time I went to watch a cricket match in 879 00:57:41,640 --> 00:57:47,040 person. So this was October 2007 and 880 00:57:47,320 --> 00:57:50,840 when Pakistan toured India for a three match test series with the 881 00:57:50,840 --> 00:57:53,360 first Test being in Delhi at the Ferocia Kotla. 882 00:57:54,640 --> 00:57:58,680 I went with my sister and my dad for I believe it was day three 883 00:57:59,280 --> 00:58:04,960 of the proceedings or or day 2. I I don't fully remember now, 884 00:58:04,960 --> 00:58:12,800 but but in the days had started with Pakistan cleaning up the 885 00:58:12,800 --> 00:58:16,320 Indian tale within the first session and then bat and then 886 00:58:16,320 --> 00:58:17,960 trying to bat out the rest of the day. 887 00:58:17,960 --> 00:58:23,680 I think my enduring memory of it was in the in the at the tail 888 00:58:23,680 --> 00:58:29,160 end of of the day with with Miss Powell hath smash smashing 2 889 00:58:30,080 --> 00:58:36,160 smashing 2 sixes over long off and and long on his his back was 890 00:58:36,160 --> 00:58:38,960 facing towards us. We were sitting in the South 891 00:58:38,960 --> 00:58:42,640 stand. So he was the shots were going 892 00:58:42,640 --> 00:58:48,480 northbound and in that big north North Central stands that though 893 00:58:48,480 --> 00:58:52,520 the ugly looking airport parking lot 1 that everyone makes fun 894 00:58:52,520 --> 00:58:56,120 of. So that so that was my first, I 895 00:58:56,120 --> 00:58:59,160 would say real in person experience of the rivalry 896 00:58:59,640 --> 00:59:03,200 outside of watching random different games on on TV. 897 00:59:04,440 --> 00:59:06,960 But yeah, it was that was a good, that was a good time, I 898 00:59:06,960 --> 00:59:12,440 would say, because it being 2002 thousand and seven, that first 899 00:59:12,440 --> 00:59:16,120 half of the year was when both countries were sort of going 900 00:59:16,120 --> 00:59:19,800 through turmoil with the not doing well at the ODI World Cup 901 00:59:19,800 --> 00:59:22,920 in the West Indies. And but they had just played 902 00:59:22,920 --> 00:59:27,160 each other twice at the T20 World Cup in South Africa. 903 00:59:27,560 --> 00:59:34,800 And this bilateral series in India came basically a month, a 904 00:59:34,800 --> 00:59:36,400 month after that tournament ended. 905 00:59:37,320 --> 00:59:39,080 So yeah, it was it was a good time. 906 00:59:39,080 --> 00:59:42,760 It was a it was a fun time. And it's it's obviously sad that 907 00:59:43,360 --> 00:59:50,360 these, that these, these bilateral sort of experiences 908 00:59:50,480 --> 00:59:54,240 don't really happen anymore. 201213 would have been the last 909 00:59:54,240 --> 00:59:58,000 time that, that, that at least in the men's game, that there 910 00:59:58,000 --> 00:59:59,120 would have been a chance of that. 911 00:59:59,120 --> 01:00:02,720 But from what I remember, those were just white ball games. 912 01:00:03,280 --> 01:00:06,480 I remember if there was a game in Delhi and if we didn't go, I 913 01:00:06,480 --> 01:00:11,360 didn't go. But but yeah, to answer your 914 01:00:11,360 --> 01:00:16,160 question, my my main, main memory of the rivalry was that 915 01:00:16,160 --> 01:00:20,720 2007. Test 2007 Test match in October. 916 01:00:22,480 --> 01:00:26,480 Other than that, I'd give a shout out to the inaugural 917 01:00:26,480 --> 01:00:31,080 season of the IPL with the hype that was around the auction and 918 01:00:31,080 --> 01:00:33,520 the Pakistani players that were part of it as well. 919 01:00:34,240 --> 01:00:39,080 I'm a Delhi fan obviously. So for us it was Mohammad Asif 920 01:00:39,120 --> 01:00:45,520 and Shoaib Malik. Need So Shoaib Malik wasn't that 921 01:00:45,520 --> 01:00:47,800 brilliant for us, but But yeah, it was. 922 01:00:47,800 --> 01:00:51,240 It was fun, at least for a little while, seeing Asif's 923 01:00:51,240 --> 01:00:53,760 express space in a black and red jersey. 924 01:00:54,520 --> 01:00:57,440 And yeah, it's sad that it's sad that that doesn't happen anymore 925 01:00:57,480 --> 01:01:00,360 either. But but yeah, that was fun. 926 01:01:02,240 --> 01:01:07,280 Next up, Prateek Jha. Hi, I hope. 927 01:01:07,280 --> 01:01:13,960 I'm not too late I my memory of the India Pakistan rivalry. 928 01:01:14,760 --> 01:01:18,800 My first memory was during the 91 World Cup which Pakistan won 929 01:01:19,520 --> 01:01:22,080 and I was just trying to understand the game. 930 01:01:22,080 --> 01:01:24,560 At that time. I was just learning it and I 931 01:01:24,560 --> 01:01:28,760 knew that India is a team which does not always win and it's the 932 01:01:28,840 --> 01:01:33,480 World Cup. But then the meander jumping 933 01:01:33,480 --> 01:01:37,640 Jack happened, which was I think the biting memory and I was like 934 01:01:37,640 --> 01:01:42,000 what is happening? This seems to be a normal sport. 935 01:01:42,000 --> 01:01:46,400 And suddenly you know this. So the drama was, you know, 936 01:01:46,880 --> 01:01:49,440 outstanding the really the outstanding memory of the match, 937 01:01:49,440 --> 01:01:51,760 then the cricket. But then India won, which was 938 01:01:51,760 --> 01:01:54,840 again, surprising. And which kind of made you think 939 01:01:54,840 --> 01:01:59,400 about cricket being a game where India, which was a bad team, won 940 01:01:59,400 --> 01:02:03,000 the eventual, you know, defeated the eventual champions. 941 01:02:04,360 --> 01:02:06,840 So. Yeah, that's my memory of the 942 01:02:06,840 --> 01:02:09,200 game. And I guess now the drama has 943 01:02:10,000 --> 01:02:14,080 really, you know, become bigger than the actual cricket. 944 01:02:14,080 --> 01:02:16,520 So I'm not looking forward to the game. 945 01:02:17,120 --> 01:02:22,600 Well, I'm looking forward to see what effect this new, you know, 946 01:02:22,600 --> 01:02:27,240 culture has made on players and how they handle it. 947 01:02:27,240 --> 01:02:29,760 Are they going to get into wobble spats and fight each 948 01:02:29,760 --> 01:02:32,720 other on the field? So yeah, I'm looking forward to 949 01:02:32,720 --> 01:02:43,520 some contact sports, I guess. That's a second hundred in 950 01:02:43,520 --> 01:02:45,600 successive. Dramatic. 951 01:02:45,600 --> 01:02:49,000 Style. The whole of Bengal are on their 952 01:02:49,040 --> 01:02:52,600 feet. Not that important. 953 01:02:52,600 --> 01:02:56,040 He's gone the next. Ball, The dream has diminished 954 01:02:56,160 --> 01:02:57,440 for Carlos Bratwick.