It’s not just Cricket… it’s the Stories of those who Play it

Inspiring Pakistan cricket players

‘Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.’ — Nelson Mandela

Before I married my husband I knew of a game called cricket. I knew nothing about the game. I’ve never even seen a cricket match. When I got married, my husband I also “married” a game of cricket too. My husband would make me sit and watch clips of cricket matches of great Pakistani bowlers.

I’ve never seen anyone so addicted to a game like my husband. He would send me various articles/commentary of the cricket game. Telling me how great the writing was. I would put off reading those because I am not into cricket and I know nothing about it.

I don’t understand the game of cricket. I probably never will. The game is long. The rules are weird. I don’t understand how they get points. A friend of mine once said ‘probably even the players don’t understand the game!’ Of course, it’s not true. You’ve got to grow up with it to understand it.

However, there’s something truly special, inspiring and magical about Pakistan cricket. It’s how Pakistan people play it. I’ve read it somewhere:

‘Pakistan players play with fire in their bellies and ice in their veins’.

The stories of people playing it is so beautiful. It’s the stories of anything is possible. Pakistan cricket players have the most amazing stories. The stories in any field are amazing, after all telling stories, is the oldest thing to do.

It’s special because when you watch Pakistani players it’s like a celebration of life itself. Maybe because nothing happens forever in the game and then there’s a wicket. I doubt it. The stories I’ve heard of men who play it are truly inspiring.

Inspiring Players

For example, Imran Khan was the first captain to have people on the team on their merit not on whom they knew. He asked his cousin to leave the the team. His cousin hasn’t spoken with him for twenty something years as a result.

That was a first in the game of cricket in Pakistan. If you want to be part of the Pakistan cricket team you are selected on merit.

Right now Imran Khan is a Prime Minister of Pakistan. If there was a story of anything is possible Imran Khan is it! He achieved everything in cricket and in politics because of one simple reason he never gave up! Imran Khan is an inspiring man but that’s for another blog post.

Mohammad Amir

His story is incredible because first he gets picked up to play cricket from a farm where he grew up. Then, he becomes the most effective bowler. Because he listened to the captain (he was 18 years old), he ended up in jail for 6 months and with 5 year ban not being able to play cricket. He returned to the game and is an amazing bowler.

If you want to know about redemption read his story. He comes from a very humble background and yet plays an international cricket. In Pakistan, players are selected on their merit not where they come from or who they know.

When he plays and wins a wicket he lights up like a firework. It would be fair to say this about most of the Pakistani cricket players.

Shoaib Akhtar

Was the fastest bowler. His story is incredible. He too comes from a very humble background. In Pakistan, anything is possible! Shoaib dreamt big when he was young. He became one of the most admired fast bowlers. He has a personality bigger than life.

He overcame the words of ‘you cannot do this or that’ he went and did what he wanted or rather dreamed of. Let there be a lesson for all of us don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. You can do anything you want. If you can dream it, it can become your reality.

Right now, he makes youtube videos about life and how he overcame difficulties in life. He doesn’t forget where he comes from and remains to be humble. Most of his videos are in Urdu I wish they were in English I’d understand a bit more.

Shoaib Akhtar tells his whole story in his autobiography called Controversially Yours if you want a bit more.

Mohammad Irfan

He is the tallest Pakistani cricket player. He was literally found and brought to play cricket. He was working in a plastic pipe factory in Pakistan. In Pakistan, if you play well it doesn’t matter where you come from or what you do.

He was a fast bowler for the team. To come from a simple background and then play an international cricket is impressive. The joy these men depict on the cricket field is something else. However, when you know what it means to them you understand their joy. It’s between playing cricket or going back to a pipe factory.

What’s incredible is the story of hope and a belief I can be anything and do anything. It doesn’t matter what you do right now, tomorrow might be a different day! This could not be more true for Pakistani cricket players.

Naseem Shah

He is 16 year old kid! He had made headlines across the world. The saddest thing of all that happened to this impressive young boy was his mother passed away when he was about to play a game of cricket in Australia. I cannot imagine the strength he had to continue playing while going through the loss of his parent. He is only 16 year old!

Only in Pakistan cricket team would find talented young fast bowlers and send them to an international cricket game. Everywhere else the players have to have experience in playing an international game. With Pakistan cricket players is very similar to throwing a dice and let’s see what happens. This act alone turns a game of cricket into magic!

That’s what Pakistan cricket team is known for: to produce fast bowlers and throw them into a deep end. In turn the world watches it with awe.

It’s the stories of these players that the game of cricket becomes something else for me. It’s the passion shown after each wicket is won. It’s a passion of life. It’s humbleness. It’s raw beauty of anything is possible. If you can dream it, it can be your reality. This has been proven by so many Pakistani cricket players.

It’s the belief of anything is possible!

It’s overcoming ‘this or that not possible for you’ it’s a real life stories of hope. There are so many more cricket players such as Wasim Akram, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Waqar Younis, Shaheen Afradi and many many more. They have changed the game of cricket or they are going to change the game of cricket.

What’s amazing is the men who retire from cricket do some good/charitable work for their country. I’d highly recommend checking them out.

In the end, it’s the stories of these inspiring players that make the game and life so incredible. It’s these stories that make others believe dreams do come true. You are as big or as small as your dreams…

Love and Light