How we inherited Cricket or KirrKet as some say. This is my version, so dont quote me on this.
When Lord Mountbatten was leaving to go back to Britian all the dignitaries came out to wave him good bye, right before he was about to step on the plane he came to see Mr Jinnah and Mr Nehru and handed them each a bat this is the conversation that was recorded by my great great grandfather who was a reporter for a magazine at the time and was covering the event.
Mountbatten: Well old chaps, my work here is done I say. The British have managed to make a nice ol mess here, lots of little pieces we have carved out of the sub continent and you guys can spend the next century or so sorting it all out. Do enjoy the cucumber sandwiches and yes before I forget here are my cricket bats. I prophesize that from this day forward, cricket fever will grip your nations. Anthems will be written to it and performed with lots of drama and action. Every child born hence will want to be a cricketer and make a century and every girls dream will be to get married to a man who knows his cricket (wink) So I am off now cheerios.
Mr Nehru: Haain, Mr Jinnah did you hear what he said, you think this will be our future, children and adults alike will be playing and loosing sleep over cricket. I was going to start my own Gooli danda ki team yaar. Waakoo kiyee kay gaya hai, aye angraiz. Hoon assi ki karan gay?
Mr Jinnah: Oh Nehru sahib dont worry about it too much Cricket is but a glorified version of Gooli danda. I think we will make it our national sport and encourage our youth to play this game and practice it more than they practice their calculus before an exam. Infact I will declare it a vacation when cricket world cups will be played so no child has to skip on sleep in order to study and watch the game. I am 100 percent sure... that these goraz took our gooli danda and made their cricket and now they are using it to create a more dramatic rift between our countries.
Mr Nehru: SAch kehnday ho tussi but Mr Jinnah I want Cricket to be our national game, we are a bigger nation we can produce more players what say you?
Mr Jinnah: hmmmm, well Mr Nehru, I say non of us make cricket the national game, however we promote it more than the national games hence it will be the psuedo national game for both the countries what say you?
Mr Nehru: Ahoo gee, good idea jee. I think we can make hockey the national game and we shall make Cricket the psuedo national game. Who can play hockey in our over crowded cities anyways, where will they play. For a game of cricket all one needs is a fairly empty street a couple of tennis balls, bats and some old chair for the wickets and...
Mr Jinnah: Enough speed to run away when the neighbours window breaks, or his hen dies due to being hit by the ball
Mr Nehru: Yes and we have to ensure that all the adults of a family are in the grip of the cricket fever every few months so lots of matches and tournaments have to be arranged, the uncles have to be in a thorougly bad mood if their teams loose, enough bad tempers have to flair so that the children quake in their shoes and the ladies of the house have to make extra effort for dinner.
Mr Jinnah: Yes my point exactly, we are both the fathers of such nations who are extremely passionate and emotional in their outlook. This can ofcourse be a great thing if they cultivate it in the right direction. I think they will leave the Spanish and Italian emotionalism at the door. They will stay up nights to watch a match even if they have work to go to in the mornings. They will skip school, not do house chores, lock up their crying babies all for the love of the game and for the PAssioan.... but this passioan will in no way be harnessed for the good of the country.
Mr Nehru: hahahaha you are quite funny Mr Jinnah. All nations need Heros and Heroins. As we are going to have a lot of them thanks to our Bollywood, I forsee us having beautiful young women who will be winning Ms World titles and ensuring the future of our industry. As you will not have that benefit you should have your heros from the sports industry
Mr Jinnah: You are right Mr Nehru, all nations need their Heros, America has their comic book heros, and ofcourse lots from Hollywood. As a lot cannot be expected of Lollywood I think we should uplift the Pathans and make sure they can be counted on as the future Hero providers for the Nations; waisay bhi they are a good looking bunch and this is a very important aspect of being a Hero.
Mr Nehr and Mr Jinnah together: Set hai phir, first cricket world cup shall be played in England. Jaldi naal Mountbatten nu telegram khaloo
The End, Dont kill me guys this was just a joke......
love your spirit and your passion for the game. Cricket wont be Cricket without it.
