DNA Celebrity Column: Sehwag, Latif bhai bhai, writes Ayushmann Khurrana

Circa 1986 Javed Miandad single-handedly snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat with that last-ball six against india. A rare feat in those days. Then he jumped umpteen times in front of Kiran More in 1992 World Cup in Australia. Then there was 1996 World Cup when he struggled with the marauding Indians. Samay badaa balwan re bhaiya, samay badaa balwan. Sigh. He knew it was his swan song when he watched the third umpire pressing the red bulb for his run out decision at Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore. This was the same match where Rashid Latif was terrific behind the stumps taking a crazy one off Mohammad Azharuddin’s bat. The same Rashid Latif is back in form. His rants against Virendra Sehwag are making great news on prime time. Virubhai in his irreverent style said ‘Pakistan beta hai and Bangladesh pota hai’, when India had won against Pakistan. And this wasn’t taken lightly by the erstwhile Pakistani stumper. Not defending Viru bhai’s statement in this situation, but Rashid Latif sitting on a sofa in a white kameez with a chai truly spoke like a ruffian.

Cricket controversies have always been a part of Indo Pak encounters. Like we have Shahrukh-Kajol, Hemaji-Dharamji  in cinema, we also have Akmal-Gambhir, Sohail-Prasad, Bhajji-Akhtar as the most ‘romantic’ jodis of ‘friendly’ neighbourhood cricket.

Akmal and Gambhir were so close to each other during a verbal duel on the field that they had almost smooched each other before Gauti’s helmet grill formed an unwanted border between them. The Indo-Pak encounters bring curiousity amongst fans. They like aggression on and off the field.

Though Pakistan has won more matches in comparison. The last 10 years have been the best years of Indian cricket. But now, due to a political and current standpoint, we hardly play together. If we had played enough, India would’ve altered this record by winning more matches. These days it seems we are playing their junior team. Recently, the only thing they could win against Indians was the toss. But when it comes to Pakistan, they have always been as unpredictable as the weather in Shimla and the Pakistani hill station Murree. Back in the day, Pakistan used to win more matches. Those were the days when Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar were the three spearheads on the field. And the revered Latif used to keep wickets opposite these pacemen. “Well bowled Saqi, well bowled” was the most hackneyed voice caught on the stump microphone. But Rashidbhai didn’t bowl well this time as he was never a bowler, always a wicket keeper. Keeping behind the stumps. What about keeping the mouth shut? Because it’s communal, pedestrian and is played for the gallery. Even Virubhai loves playing to the gallery. Why not? He’s always been a hitter. But he should also take care while chest thumping. Things don’t go down well easily especially when you hit below the belt. As a commentator it’s imperative to be neutral and objective. But that’s Virubhai. He’s the darling of the masses because of his 'jaat' style statements. But let’s not push the envelope, and draw a line somewhere. Both Sehwag and Latif have been bonafide international cricketers and this kind of a controversy is highly unwanted.

In 2004, I went to Lahore as a part of the student exchange programme, and also made a documentary on Baba Bulleh Shah, who had once said, “Na kar bandeya meri meri, na hai teri, na hai meri, chaar dino ka mela duniya, phir mitti ban jaana dheri.’’ This couplet is so apt for this bizarre situation. I visited Pakistan on a cricket visa. It was the same series when Virubhai had scored a triple hundred at the Multan test. And a double century at Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore. He was well-applauded for his batting genius in the so-called hostile territory. So no point in unnecessary Pak bashing as far as cricket is concerned. Here we clearly aren’t talking about cross-border terrorism. But I’m glad Virubhai maintained a dignified silence when Rashidbhai chose to have 15 minutes of online tirade against him and India, sitting casually post iftaar. When I was in Lahore, my brother Aparshakti and I played a friendly match against the local team in the heart of the city, wearing Indian jerseys at Liberty Market. We were eight Indians in blues. It was a tape ball match. It encouraged reverse swing. We’d won that match since all of us were amateur cricketers. But the kind of love we received was unexplainable. It still gives me goosebumps.

“Cricket needs brightening up a bit. My solution is to let the players drink in the beginning of the game, not after. It always works in our picnic matches”
—Paul Hogan