BOWLED OUT

The world was at its brink. Two nuclear powers were at loggerheads, each blaming the other for the secessionist problem being faced by them. While one was limited to stone pelting and sporadic armed attacks, the other nation was besieged with frequent cases of bombs going off, be it in the mosques or at school. Pressure was mounting on both sides wanting a full scale war and armed forces at both ends were on full preparedness. The Heads of States knew the cost and repercussions of a war and sat uneasily on their thrones when, one day, one of them decided to break the ice by dialing directly to the other…”Nawaz, how are you?” Taken aback by this informal call, Nawaz reciprocated by saying, “Shukriya Bhai Jaan, all is fine.” Both knew they were both lying. “Nawaz, we need to put an end to this madness. We need to build bridges and concentrate on development in our respective countries. The people have to be told that there is a world beyond hatred and they need to live like good neighbours.”

“Cricket is the common religion for the two nations and people on both sides of the Indus love the game and adore the players. So I propose a one- off test match between India and Pakistan. We could host the historic test match at any venue in India. The minds of the people will get diverted and can even help in demilitarization, once tempers are down.”

“Ji Bhai Jaan. Good idea but the match should be played in Pakistan, in my home town Lahore. Only then the impact will be there for all to see.”

“Ok Nawaz. Let me get the things organized at my end and you do the same. Safety and security of players, their families and guests who will travel with the team from India must also be the responsibility of the Pakistan government. "

“Ji Bhai Jaan. You can be rest assured they will all be my personal guests and no one will harmed a wee bit. That’s my word to you Brother.”

“Nawaz, there is just one more request. Make sure that one person is not invited into the stadium when the match is on…Dawood. We do not want any adverse publicity for the match which will make it difficult for me to get the approval from my own party leave alone how the press and opposition will tear me apart.”

“Ji Bhai Jaan. Zubaan diya humney my word that D will not be invited or sighted in the stadium.”

Next morning the BCCI convened a special meeting at PM’s office where over breakfast of poha and upma the committee was told, in no uncertain terms, the decision to send the Indian Cricket team to Lahore in the next 2 weeks. The Board protested about lack of security and loss of revenues as the players will have to be pulled out of the on-going IPL. The PM kept smiling as he poured tea in the cups for the guests who knew that this was not a request but a diktat which had to be followed. As they walked out of the meeting, a hurried press conference was convened when the Board President announced the decision of a one-off test match at Lahore. Everyone was taken aback just as they had been a couple of months ago when some currency notes were withdrawn…sudden and shocking to many. But this was not going to be easy as many in the ruling party and their allies were strictly against any sort of relationship with Pakistan. The government, which supported people banning Pak film artistes into the country, was today agreeing to send their Superstars to play there….unthinkable but the die was cast.

Indian cricket team probable were quickly called up and the best of the lot got named in the final sixteen. Led by the brilliant Virat, the team looked good in every respect and a world beater. With their status as number one cricketing nation, the team looked happy to board the plane to Pakistan. Among the other passengers on the flight were cricketing legends, their families and enthusiastic fans who were going to view the match and enjoy the much spoken of Pakistani hospitality. The team and the other visitors were given a grand welcome at Lahore Airport and, all along the way, people stood with flower petals to be showered on the road where the bus passed. Suddenly the tensions at the border seemed a thing of the past. Both the nations were anxiously waiting for Virat vs Amir, Younus vs Ashwin. The battlefield had changed and the bat and the ball had suddenly replaced the stones and the bombs. Was this cricketing diplomacy truly happening?

The action moved to Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore which had been decorated alike a Big Fat Panju Wedding…streamers, balloons, scarves, festoons…you name it and it was there. Tickets had been completely sold out within minutes of being put on sale. The stadium started filling up on Day One right from 7 am onwards even though the match was to commence at 9 am. Sharp at 8.30am the national anthems of the two countries were played and the spectators stood up in respect…for once Aman ki Aasha seemed working. The Indian fans consisting of players of yesteryears like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Sachin and many more were given a place of importance in a special box which also had Pakistani players like Imran Khan, Abdul Qadir, Inzzy and others. The other fans who had flown were allotted an exclusive stand where they came dressed in tricolours with the Indian flag in almost every hand.

It was 9 am and the two captains walked into the field with the umpires for the toss. A silver coin made for the occasion was spun and Virat called it right and decided to bowl first. They shook hands and walked back into the pavilion. Pakistan lost a couple of early wickets to the speedsters but the old guards Younus and Misbah stood the ground and carried on cautiously to lunch time. Post lunch, as if flood gates had opened up, they started playing freely, scoring fours at will and taking singles at will. The famed Indian spin attack failed completely and the day ended with Pakistan at 323 for 3 with Younis getting out on the last ball of the day to a brilliant catch by the keeper Saha. As the day ended, the spectators, especially the Indians thronged the streets of Lahore for the lazeez kebabs and exotic dishes. They found it better than the five star hotel food. The tourists roamed the streets and by-lanes and reached places where normal people would not venture on holidays. Everywhere they were being welcomed as if brothers and sisters of old had returned home.

Day 2 started with a bang. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar got a hat trick in the second over of the day which had Pakistan tottering and slowly the team collapsed to 411 all out. Indian team’s strength lay in its batting right from the opening till almost the very end….each one of them could hit a century when required. By close of Day 2 India had replied strongly at 238 for 4 with Virat batting at 85 not out. On Day 3 India scored 388 all out and post tea, Pakistan with a slender lead, went in to bat. The see-saw battle continued till day 4 when Pakistan, with great difficulty, managed to set a gettable target of 255 for the Indians to win in the last innings. Ashwin’s magic worked and he spun a web around the Pakis and got 8 of the 10 wickets. The stadium went all quiet knowing fully well the match was all but lost. Indian fans were buoyant and went for a night out on a special open bus around the city.

That night a special Indian Air Force plane landed at Lahore Airport. Breaking protocol, the Pakistani PM went to receive the guest who was a diminutive lady draped in fine silk saree. The India Foreign Minister had come to see the final day’s play. The two dignitaries drove away in a black limo with the flags of the two countries fluttering.

Before Day 5 began, the Indian Coach Anil Kumble spoke to the boys. “Victory awaits us. We will not get another such opportunity. Go out there and win for yourselves and the country.” After this the batsmen padded up and went to the pavilion as the last day’s match began. The stadium was all quiet. Only one stand seemed to be happy while the rest of the 70,000 strong crowd prayed to their God for a miracle. Pakistani PM and Indian Foreign Minister sat in the VVIP enclosure and the otherwise silent section of the crowd also gave the two people a standing ovation.Indian opening pair scored briskly and by lunch time they had scored 105 without loss. Obituaries and eulogies were getting printed in the press and social media.

During the lunch break, Sachin went to the Indian dressing room and spoke to the boys and to the captain and coach in particular. The team looked happy and charged. When play began, even though the writing was on the wall, the local crowd stayed back to see the historic match. Little did they know on a Friday afternoon, the game changed on its head. Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan ran riot. One Indian wicket after another started falling. It more looked like a procession of sorts and reminded viewers of the Indian team of 70s when the tail was long and weak. By tea time India were reduced to 178 for 8. The atmosphere in the stadium changed immediately from tragedy to euphoria. The Indian section was completely dumbfounded not knowing how the story had changed all so suddenly.  One of them complained of severe chest pain and was rushed to the nearby hospital. In the second over, post tea, the Indian innings came to a halt and Pakistani players ran to pick up the stumps and whatever they could lay their hands on. This was a memorabilia they would treasure for the rest of their lives. The Indian FM and Pak PM gave away special medals to both the team members and a trophy was handed over to the victorious captain.

The whole of Pakistan erupted. There began a phase of wild celebrations with crackers and bombs. The streets were jam packed with people cheering on the road. The Indian crowd mingled with the others and enjoyed the neighbour’s happiest hour. The players and state guests were invited to a state dinner where a lavish feast was laid out. As the party was coming to a close, the Indian FM got a call on her personal number. She turned serious and walked up to the Pakistani PM. “Sir, one of the Indian fans, who hospitalized, needs to be rushed to Delhi. He happens to be Sachin’s close friend. Sachin has requested if I could take him aboard my flight as the players and the other Indian fans were to fly out to Hyderabad directly for the IPL Finals. Your help would be much appreciated.” The Pak PM immediately made a couple of calls and readily agreed to the change of plan for the sick person.

  

As the Indian FM’s car made way to the airport, Sachin sat in the ambulance with his friend in the back. As soon as the ambulance reached the airport gate, the guards on duty came to know who the person, accompanying the sick man, was. They could not believe he was there right in front of their eyes! They were so overjoyed that they insisted on getting their pictures and selfies taken with the God of Cricket. They asked him to sign autographs on whatever piece of paper they could lay their hands on. Without any verification they gladly cheered Sachin and the ambulance as it went past them straight to the parked air force plane. The crew slowly lifted the patient on board. By now the Indian FM too had come aboard. In another part of the airport, the Indian fans and players too were ready for take-off around the same time. The two engines turned on simultaneously and started moving.

In another part of Lahore there was another chaos happening. The prisoner in the high security prison was missing. When the victory celebrations were happening, some people passing by had left some crackers and bombs near the prison gates which the guard outside quickly brought inside the compound. They had begun putting fire to the crackers when a strange smoke from the crackers engulfed the prison putting all who inhaled asleep. By the time they came around, it was around 8.30pm. Alarm was raised and almost the entire Pak Special Forces went on high alert and search parties were sent all around the city. A quick look at the CCTV film showed two people entering with gas masks and carrying the prisoner in cell 101 on a stretcher in an ambulance. Frantic calls were made and the Police Chief and the Head of ISI asked all roads to be blockaded and no flights were to take off. The two Indian planes were to be checked but it was too late. The two planes had taken off and were gaining altitude when the ground control asked the pilots to return. They did not heed the request and continued their journey. The bird Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Indian spy, who was sentenced to death penalty by the Pak Army Court, had flown away.

At Delhi Airport, as the Air Force Plane landed, a black limo awaited. As the aircraft door opened, the first person to be seen was the lady in saree, followed by what appeared to be Sachin and the third person was a bald headed man who looked sick and walked very slowly. As the three came down the staircase and walked towards the limo, the bearded passenger stepped out and greeted the trio. He hugged the Naval Commander and patted the Indian Batting Maestro. This truly was an Escape to Victory.

SS