When I first agreed to delve in to the World Cup for the mutiny, I did so because I knew it was important to South Asia, our diaspora and several cute commenters here…but I had no idea how powerful the sport truly is, until now.
Apparently cricket can do what diplomacy, prayers and tears cannot (all quotes via Reuters, Thanks Karthik):
Cricket fever has gripped Sri Lanka after their team secured a place in the World Cup final, diverting attention — at least for the time being — from a worsening civil war.
Cricket-mad fans sat glued to their television sets until the early hours of Wednesday morning to watch Sri Lanka defeat New Zealand by 81 runs in Jamaica.
The success of the cricket team in the Caribbean has provided a welcome distraction from the worsening military conflict between the government and Tamil Tigers, which has left a 2002 ceasefire agreement in tatters.
The two-decade civil war, which has claimed around 68,000 lives, has intensified in the past year with almost daily battles, denting business confidence and contributing to spiralling inflation.
One higher power, many paths; one fervently-desired wish, many prayers:
Multi-faith religious ceremonies are being planned in the lead-up to Saturday’s big game to bless the team, and President Mahinda Rajapaksa will even fly to Barbados for the final.
Yo, this is serious:
The Excise Department has even delayed the start of an alcohol sales ban for Buddhist Wesak holidays by one day. It will now come into effect after the World Cup final.
I got my hopes up…
Even many Tamil Tigers, who control swathes of land in the north and east of the country and are fighting for independence, are watching.
“There are people in the controlled areas watching,” rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said by telephone.
Then felt them sink, even though I’m not Sri Lankan, Tamil, or particularly conscious of this violent, on-going tragedy:
But he added: “Our activities will not change because of these matches. These matches are not going to make any difference.“
I hope he’s full of it. I stupidly and naively hope that cricket really will do for Sri Lanka what nothing else has been able to– give diverse communities a reason to stop killing each other, at least for a little while. As far as I know, it’s difficult to cheer effectively if you’re holding a gun. Yes, that was paneer-laden…but I’m serious. In 1996, Sri Lanka destroyed Australia to win the World Cup; I hope they do so tomorrow, too. If ever there were a country which deserved some cheer…::
For an alternate take on the significance of Sri Lanka’s World Cup success, I’d recommend a post by kettikili over at Pass The Roti.
I, like Mandira Bedi, am not capable of this kind of commentary:
Likewise, today in Sri Lanka, cricket appreciation at its best is hailed as a force of national unity, a testament to the plural, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic, and multi-religious country we should aspire to be.
After all, our Murali is a Tamil, Sri Lankans, diasporic or not, are wont to say.
This is true. But is this enough? Can we simply rest on the laurels of the team? Sri Lankan cricket represents the ideal nation and its aspirations, not the realities of all its citizens. Sri Lankan cricket, in some sense, is what we hope to be. (I’m bracketing the gendering of that abstract model of citizenship– for now.)
But, as is all too evident now, cricket fanaticism at its worst serves as a distraction from the war, and a convenient way to suppress debate and dissent in favour of a superficial image of national unity.
The rest of the post is here.
Too bad that Sri Lanka lost the toss. I think this one was a particularly important one to win. Anyways, the next 8 overs (until the 15th) are absolutely crucial.
Go Lanka!
Much as i admire McGrath, it’s a shame he can’t have an off-day..
A brilliant couple of overs from McGrath. What a beautiful over the arm bowling action. It’s been a great World Cup for him so far, and he is not disappointing in the finals.
Quite!
I am already imagining post-match crowing from Ponting. He, of the Skeletor-Chenney charm school. How can one man be so talented and unlikable at the same time?
43/1 in 10 overs?! what is lanka doing?? what is the game plan here?!!! why are they going ‘thuk’ ‘thuk’ instead of lashing out! ah, i speak too soon — jaya’s upto something now.. 51/1 in 11.
Can someone send a text message to the Lankans letting them know that its a one-day game and not a 5 day test match?
This is no Ali v. Frazier. It looks more like Tyson v. Michael Spinx.
Shodan, I hear ya brother. He is monumentallly ungracious in victory. Mark Taylor is still the best Aussie captain ever – if not the most succcessful.
jayasuriya and sangakkara have turned it up.. six 4s and one 6 in the last 2 overs. go lanka..
2nd 50 in 27 balls. Sangakkara is totally whacking the ball. Is it gonna be the day of the wicketkeepers?
Ajit is right, but I just can’t bring myself to care.
also, we all know it’s over. lanka’s done.
this is getting real. yes, it has just shifted from that realm of impossible to possible. im gonna have a heart attack. go lanka, chilli, mirchi, 5 stars on the heat!
heart-in-mouth disease…sorry 🙂
it has started to drizzle. if it intensifies anymore, the game will be stopped. It will be interesting to see if the game resumes and what the revised target’s goinna look like.
I am surprised by your response Anna. The reason I read this blog is because it interests me to see the articles about what notable things are being done by other people of the same background as me, i.e. people of South Asian and in particular Indian origin living in the US/UK/Canada and elsewhere around the world. I just don’t think its a good idea to suggest we should support a team just because they are brown. That doesn’t mean I have “issues” with brown solidarity, we should work together, but there’s a fine line with between solidarity and coming off as racist (I am not suggesting your or anyone else here is racist but I can see why other people of non South Asian could perceive us as). I just think we have to be careful and that’s why I used that empathic example before. I do not want to stay in a place where I am not welcome however so considering you are one of the major contributors here if you don’t think I should be visiting, I won’t.
Jayasuriya on 49. And uh-oh, the rain is back. Hope this game doesn’t go Duckworth-Lewis.
Lanka are having a go. These Lions are having a go. Come on lads.
How do you burn effigies of rain?
We should do the rain dance.
No, we should do the Death to Australia Dance.
I never said you were unwelcome, nor did I tell you to stop visiting us and it’s hurtful that instead of allowing me to disagree with you, you would insinuate that I might somehow banish you. I have never done such a thing and it is spiteful and petty to think I would. When I asked about why you read us, it was because I was genuinely baffled, it wasn’t some coded message that “if you are not with us, you are against us”. Everyone can and should visit, unless they are trolls. Your example was not analogous in my opinion, which is why I originally responded.
Ok lads, there’s 18 overs left, just go for it! Throw caution to the wind!
I never imagined having to say that about Jayasuriya…
o Four? Four?! Four!! Yes!!! o Sangakkara OUT! Oh no.
Sangakkara out.
I take it back.
They heard you – Sangakkara is out. SHIT
The anti rain dance you mean…
The anti rain dance because I still feel that we have a good match on our hands and I cannot bear to follow this again. The world cup has already been too long.
Ooh, bit of Ranatunga class there from Jayawardene…
So, all Lanka needs is a minimum of two foursan over or a four and a six an over [manic glint]
Someone needs to bat Hogg out of attack. Steady milking of ones and twos will work just as well.
We.Are.Screwed.
End of Jayasuriya. It is going to be really uphill from here on.
noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
That is exactly what I thought – that you were not allowing me to disagree with you as well when you said your ‘point is not well taken’ and then asked why I’m reading this blog but I see now that I misunderstood your intention with your questioning. I hope we sorted that out now, this is a fine web site / blog and I visit often.
The Aussies have the lion by its tail!
Rain stops play for 45 mins. Play resumes and sri lanka will need 95 runs from 70 balls. Jaywardane takes sri lanka home with 4 wickets to spare.
Ajit brotha, why do you have to insert a sour note in what is essentially a banter amongst cricket-heads? If you read the thread carefully (not that anyone should, cricket-heads’ banter etc. etc.) — most of us acknowledge Australia’s superior skills. We dislike their arrogance and would’ve rooted for NZ, if they were in finals. If you visit Guardian OBO and other such sites, you will find similar vibe. We love our underdogs and we love our neighbours.
Mr Optimistic: Let us Pray.
Incidentally, I would like to record my support and admiration for the fine, fine locks of Sawdust Man.
Yay, rain again. SL need 169. Curses on Duckworth-Lewis. May some spinach get stuck in their front teeth.
The asking rate is now 133 off 79. It’s gonna be funny to see the DL numbers after they return. I hope it doesn’t turn into another “22 runs off 1 ball” type of thing.
this match just gets more and more bizarre. well, it’s over for us either way.
Thats what it means all right, except that its false. Have you seen his picture?
To a white aussie he might as well be aboriginal. In fact some Sri Lankans were absorbed into the aboriginal population in the 19th century.
Being the product of a gora system does not make him a gora does it? The point is that the subcontinental fad of hiring white coaches will lose its shine after this World Cup. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka each won the World Cup without the services of a foreign white coach. Coached by whites they have all fallen short repeatedly. In the case of India and Pakistan in this World Cup, humiliatingly so.
After the mysterious death (murder?) of Pakistan’s coach Woolmer, whites too will probably be leery of taking coaching jobs in the subcontinent. Certainly in Pakistan.
Prema, as a Lankan-Aussie and as a cricket fan, PULL YA HEAD IN. Stop talking absolute rot.
Shodan, I was talking about something else, a reason for supporting Sri Lanka that I wasn’t sure was the right reason (I may be wrong according to you or others but that’s what I think). Your reason (wanting to finally see Australia lose) was not what I was talking about.
I get it, “we are all Sri Lankan” has a deep meaning – i.e. we are all mere flotsam on the sea of obscure mathematical run-rate rules and the vagaries of weather and robotically dominant Aussies.
Did I say Jaywardane? I meant Silva.
Jayawardene gone.
weeps silently
Let me guess, what got your tail up was this: “To a white aussie he might as well be aboriginal. In fact some Sri Lankans were absorbed into the aboriginal population in the 19th century”. Right? Here’s where I got that tidbit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Australian
“Early immigrants from Ceylon were generally – unlike the O’Deans – absorbed into the Aborigine population. Under the ‘White Australia’ policy, immigration was negligible.”
Prema: amazingly, i have read that wikipedia article. i simply fail to see the relevance of any of your arguments in any of your posts to this game and its outcome.
bears repeating again:
“nooooooooooooooooooooo!”
Aussies winning yet again is unbearable..
-fan of Indian cricket team and the Redsox
Are we shooting for 280 comments? Or is the revised total 269? 🙂