Pakistan’s solid support for Sri Lanka - An Article

[0tt0man]

I came across this article while reliving some 1996 WC memories. I never knew the Sri Lankans held us in such high esteem :)

Part 27

by Rex Clementine

"The crowd support during the 1996 World Cup final was amazing. Everyone whom we met in Lahore said that they wanted us to win. They cheered us throughout and Arjuna very rightly thanked the Pakistani public for their support in the post match presentation," Sanath Jayasuriya, the Most Valuable Player of the 1996 World Cup described the support the Sri Lankan team got in Pakistan, during the final against Australia on 17 March, 1996.

The unprecedented support the team got that day made the Sri Lankans feel that they were indeed playing at home and ever since that famous victory, Sri Lankan teams have been popular visitors to Pakistan.

What made the Pakistanis support Arjuna Ranatunga’s side so much? It wasn’t just South Asian solidarity. For one thing, they dislike the Australians and Sri Lanka had gone onto beat India in the semi-final after the quarter-final clash between the arch-rivals had been won by India in Bangalore. But more than any of these, such was the brand of cricket Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya were dishing out that it was hard not to fall in love with them.

"I would like to thank Wasim and Azar for coming over to Colombo when we were in trouble," Ranatunga said, to thunderous applause, thanking the joint India-Pakistan team that played an exhibition game in Colombo after Australia and West Indies pulled out from their group games due to security reasons. "I would like to thank the Pakistani people as well. Thank you for supporting us," Ranatunga added.

The picture above is a section of Pakistani supporters cheering the Sri Lankan side.

The banner said;

‘There was an umpire named Hair

Who has a body of an overgrown bear

With a brain as small as a Hare

Who treated Sri Lankans unfair’.

Sunil Wettimuny, the eldest of the three Wettimuny brothers who represented Sri Lanka in cricket, was in Lahore to witness the final. He was a pilot with Air Lanka and had taken the chartered flight to Lahore as several VIPs from Colombo flew to witness the historic match.

"I have never seen a nation supporting another nation like that," Wettimuny recalled. "It will go down in the history of sports. I don’t think they would have supported their own country that way. If a Sri Lankan went shopping that day, he would not have had to pay for shopping. They gave goods free. At restaurants they gave food free. The only thing you had to say was that you were Sri Lankan. We wouldn’t’ have done that for Pakistan, but Pakistan did it to us," Wettimuny added.

Wettimuny, who played in two cricket World Cups in 1975 and 1979 speaks of a special bond between players of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. "Some of these Pakistani cricketers are so close to us. You ask Sidat (Wettimuny), he will tell you and some of them are like brothers to us. If I meet Imran now, he’ll treat me like a brother and we feel so close," he added.

Those who governed and played the game in the pre-Test era are also quick to acknowledge the support Pakistan gave Sri Lanka to gain Test status and the efforts of one man, Abdul Hafeez Kardar is remembered with reverence.

Wettimuny explained how Kardar, as the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board, pushed Sri Lanka’s case for full membership of ICC. "Although we performed at every given opportunity to be taken note of, I feel we owe a lot to Abdul Hafeez Kardar, the former Pakistan Board President. If not for him, they would have stopped us from getting Test status. When we went onto win the World Cup in 1996 it proved that Kardar was right," Wettimuny added.

Neil Perera, who served at the Board of Control for 25 long years in various capacities, including as Secretary is one to always acknowledge Kardar’s role.

"Mr. Kardar has been bringing our case at the ICC level very forcefully in the 1970s. But unfortunately for us, Australia or England vetoed our chances on each occasion. But he kept on pushing our case and initiated the Ali Bhuto Trophy between our Under-19 sides," Perera said.

Wettimuny is one to have played in the Ali Bhutto Trophy and he recalled an experience during one of those tours. "Traveling in Pakistani is not that easy and when we were playing for the Ali Bhuto Trophy, Mr. Kardar sent an Air Foce plane to Multan for us to fly. It was a C130 big Air Force plane and he went out of his way to help Sri Lanka."

"I wonder whether we would have got Test status when we eventually got it, if not for Abdul Hafeez Kardar. When we won the ICC Trophy, it was the icing on the cake for Kardar. He really backed us."

Perera recalls how forcefully Kardar pushed Sri Lanka’s case at an ICC meeting at Lord’s, after Sri Lanka went onto beat Canada to qualify for the Prudential World Cup and then beat India in a group game.

"Sadly, India were a little hesitant in supporting our case for full membership," Perera revealed. "They were eventually compelled to back us because Pakistan was going out of their way to support us. We couldn’t even find money to go for ICC meeting in London those days and I remember Mr. Robert Senanayake (Former President of the Board) spent his own money and attended these meetings. At one of those meetings, Abdul Hafeez Kardar spoke forcefully and stressed that both India and Pakistan were playing regularly against Sri Lanka and that the Sri Lankans were as good as Indians or the Pakistanis," Perera recalled.

"He went onto say that if the ICC doesn’t grant us Test status, it’s nothing other than racial discrimination. This was after continuous vetoing of our case by Australia and England. I feel that we owe a lot to Abdul Hafeez Kardar, but sadly very few people realize his contributions."

Kardar is considered the father figure of Pakistan cricket. Having made his Test debut for India before partition he became the first Test captain of Pakistan in 1952. He went onto lead his country in 23 Tests. Kardar is an Oxford Blue and represented Warwickshire in county cricket. After retiring, he became the Chairman of Selectors and went onto become President of the Cricket Board.

One month after Sri Lanka won the Wills World Cup, Mr. Kardar passed away.

On his death, cricket’s bible Wisden went onto comment, "he ruthlessly modernized the organization of the Pakistani game and many of the themes he was advocating in the 1970s have become common currency among modern administrators: the need to do away with unwieldy committees, to break the post-imperial dominance of Lord’s and to expand the game in Asia. He was an early advocate of neutral umpires. Little of this was well received by his colleagues in the ICC at the time. In later years, he removed himself from cricket and his last public role was as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Switzerland. Diplomacy may not have come easily to him. Imran Khan said: After Kardar’s retirement, Pakistan cricket was thrown to the wolves, the cricket bureaucrats whose progeny still rule the game."
Source (http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=17286)


Perhaps one reason they didn't over react after the Lahore attacks.

[MrPakistan786]

There are a lot of Sri Lankans on Fb who say Pakistan is their second team. Some of them said they will watch Pakistan beat Australia in Colombo with me.

[Munda Pakistani]

More recently, Pak-SL ties have also been boosted greatly after Pakistan army help played a major role in SL rooting out LTTE after 30 odd years.

[12cavalry]

I was there in Gadaffi, and yes almost the complete stadium was supporting Srilanka.

[GOAT]

Pakistan and SL have usually shared warm relations, cricket or diplomatic. Things have taken a different course at the moment thanks to the terrorist attacks, the PCB, and the BCCI's ever increasing profitability.

Not to mention that some players from both sides are/were a little nasty or big headed. They probably hate us after the 09 T20 Cup though :))

[Down2Earth]

i'll support sri lanka again after sangakkara retires. nice article.

[Free Hit]

i'll support sri lanka again after sangakkara retires. nice article.

shame here!

sanga before captaincy and now is like heaven and hell

[Uzi]

The banner said;

‘There was an umpire named Hair

Who has a body of an overgrown bear

With a brain as small as a Hare

Who treated Sri Lankans unfair’.

That made me laugh out very loud.

[DeadlyVenom]

I used to like Sri Lanka but cant stand sangakara so that has put me off a bit

[Pakistani93]

Sri Lanka has always been my second favorite team and Sanga is my favorite non-pakistani player

[Kriketer]

Have always supported Sri Lankan team. Go Lanka!

[AZ]

remember that 96 Final, we were ALL pulling for the Lankans that day!

[Ryankhan]

Well very glad to know that and its a shame to see Srilanka now has to take money from India to hand over them their matches. SRILANKA should had won the last year ASIA CUP but it was really sad to the way they lost, just gifting their wickets away and i wish n hope PAK-SRILANKA strong bond doesnt fades away...SRILANKA are great side to watch and since lahore attacks, my respect for them has grown and now i say it most of the times that after PAKISTAN, my fav team is SRILANKA so its good to see they will be supporting us in srilanka

[Sledger]

I remember a banner from the '96 final, which to this day, I still think is the smartest one I've ever seen. Works on so many levels:

"Hair or no Hair, Murali's balls are fair"



:)))

[shoib_superstar]

I remember a banner from the '96 final, which to this day, I still think is the smartest one I've ever seen. Works on so many levels:

"Hair or no Hair, Murali's balls are fair"



:)))


NICE!!! :yk:yk

[PakPrince]

the support base has eroded a bitafter the march 2009 inident though

[Sanchez]

hehe seems like a lot of people don't like Sanga nowadays whether in SL or outside. He's trying so hard to make our players play aggressive cricket or be aggressive. But, he's raging a lost battle coz it's not in the nature of SL players who are more like happy-go-lucky players. Mahela was a crowd favourite in SL when he was captain. Not so much the player.

[PakPrince]

Mahela was an awesome captain. I never understood why he stood down.(Some say he was forced to) He became a stand in captain for Atapattu but prolly ended up being the best captain in cricket at the time. And he was a good person too. Not arrogant and whingy like Sanga
Mahela led Sri to the final in 2007. Lets see what Sanga does

[Inherent Ignorance]

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

[Dr Khan]

Srilankan people in general are very kind and Pro Pakistan. Unfortunately the only annoying Srilankan in the whole country happens to be their skipper.

[saajidrox]

Very good article. Even after the shooting incident it's still the same.I still remember when that incident happens there was no big hype by Pakistan or Sri Lanka.it was another country which was hyping and making the fire worse as if there players got shot.Pakistan has helped us in the past we have very good ties and we know to solve if we have any

[siccric]

I've travelled to SL twice and the people there are so hospitable, particularly to Pakistanis. They have serious respect for us, and I can say the same about most Pakistanis. I guess it boils down to the fact that we've all lived in similar circumstances for quite a while now. I just hope Pakistan can achieve peace like SL has. Hoping either Pak or SL win the WC!

[Digital]

Being a Sri Lankan I can assure most of the Muslims here support Pakistan(Including myself), So no doubt Pakistan will have a huge crowd. Also if you guys are travelling to Sri Lanka and need any help feel free to ask me !

Thanks

[Schickelgruber]

SL people are just good people naturally, enough said. I have met many amazing people from their country and was amazed at their humble nature.

That said, Sanga is an idiot and I hate him as well. His over-aggression will make the team play like South Africa, boring and one dimensional whereas SL are so talented and naturally gifted players like Pakistan with variety and flair about their game.

Take a bow SL people, you guys rock.

[ShehryarK]

Brilliant article! :14:

Puts everything in a nice historical perspective. Has some nice quotes too from Wettimuny etc and some great anecdotes, ie well researched. Shame its on such a low profile website? :(

Friends of mine in Lahore were there on the Final in 1996, and really, that crowd support for SL was HUGE. Bigger than any neutral crowd ever.

And probably more than some home crowds manage in many countries.


Truly - Lahore, Lahore ai :14:

[saajidrox]

Being a Sri Lankan I can assure most of the Muslims here support Pakistan(Including myself), So no doubt Pakistan will have a huge crowd. Also if you guys are travelling to Sri Lanka and need any help feel free to ask me !

Thanks

Same here:afridi

[ShehryarK]

Being a Sri Lankan I can assure most of the Muslims here support Pakistan(Including myself), So no doubt Pakistan will have a huge crowd. Also if you guys are travelling to Sri Lanka and need any help feel free to ask me !

Thanks

Good to see you around again bro :)

How are you? Hope to see you posting more often as Pak play in your back yard :D

[ShehryarK]

hehe seems like a lot of people don't like Sanga nowadays whether in SL or outside. He's trying so hard to make our players play aggressive cricket or be aggressive. But, he's raging a lost battle coz it's not in the nature of SL players who are more like happy-go-lucky players. i

I don't that bit about being aggressive being alien to SL captains is the case - Ranatunga was a VERY aggressive captain in his own way, that's why the Aussies hated him. He was the one who truly made Sri Lankan cricket.

But Arjuna was loved in Pak etc. And of course within SL.

Sangakkara on the other hand is unpopular.

[Digital]

Good to see you around again bro :)

How are you? Hope to see you posting more often as Pak play in your back yard :D

Alhamdulillah I am great bro, hope your doing good..Yes can't wait for the world cup to start so thrilled hehe..Are you coming this side?? :asadrauf

[saajidrox]

@ Digital (afraak) did you buy any tickets for the matches

[Sanchez]

I don't that bit about being aggressive being alien to SL captains is the case - Ranatunga was a VERY aggressive captain in his own way, that's why the Aussies hated him. He was the one who truly made Sri Lankan cricket.

But Arjuna was loved in Pak etc. And of course within SL.

Sangakkara on the other hand is unpopular.

There's a difference. When Arjuna was captain it was more about eliminating the fear of players as they were still minnows. And Arjuna personally didn't like the Aussies coz they always try to give u the stick and more often than not had most of his moments against AUS. Sanga's sort of trying to be macho and take on all the teams and when only ur captain does that and the other players look really meek it really looks out of place and stands out in a bad way.

[Digital]

@ Digital (afraak) did you buy any tickets for the matches

Not yet, butt hopefully i'll get (Insha Allah)

[ShehryarK]

There's a difference. When Arjuna was captain it was more about eliminating the fear of players as they were still minnows. And Arjuna personally didn't like the Aussies coz they always try to give u the stick and more often than not had most of his moments against AUS. Sanga's sort of trying to be macho and take on all the teams and when only ur captain does that and the other players look really meek it really looks out of place and stands out in a bad way. That's an interesting point and I think you're right.

Sanga needs to relax a bit :D

Alhamdulillah I am great bro, hope your doing good..Yes can't wait for the world cup to start so thrilled hehe..Are you coming this side?? :asadrauf

Alhamdolillah, that's great :)

All the best for the matches!

No, not planning to visit at this stage :(

[Blitz]

Times have changed.

These ties are nothing like they were. Living here in England, I've seen plenty of Sri Lankans at Uni. They despise Pakistanis and always support Indians in matches.

The year 2009 didn't help at all, but honestly, I think while Pakistanis probably like-ish Sri Lankans, the feeling isn't mutual anymore.

[Sanchez]

Times have changed.

These ties are nothing like they were. Living here in England, I've seen plenty of Sri Lankans at Uni. They despise Pakistanis and always support Indians in matches.

The year 2009 didn't help at all, but honestly, I think while Pakistanis probably like-ish Sri Lankans, the feeling isn't mutual anymore.

Are u sure coz most of the people here don't like Indians but we don't really have much of a history with pakistanis. I'm talking certainly in political terms. We have such a bad political history with Indians hence the general troubled waters regarding them. But, I think this is not the time and place for politics.

[saajidrox]

Times have changed.

These ties are nothing like they were. Living here in England, I've seen plenty of Sri Lankans at Uni. They despise Pakistanis and always support Indians in matches.

The year 2009 didn't help at all, but honestly, I think while Pakistanis probably like-ish Sri Lankans, the feeling isn't mutual anymore.
The 2009 incident is forgetten here.they are could be a few who supports India but majority Pakistan.I can remember when t20 final Pakistan beat Sri Lanka many lecturers at School where like we lost to Pakistan our allies :) no to India or Australia . Politically India and sri Lanka having trouble in the recent times on fisherman being killed by army in troubled waters.

[*sallu*]

Sri Lanka have always been and will remain my 2nd side after Pakistan

I really admire their brand of cricket and the spirit of the side

Haters will hate Sangakkara for being aggressive and "rude" (which he is definitely not off the field and rarely on the field), the same ones who idolize Afridi and ignore his "spirit" despite biting the ball and spiking the pitch (no offence intended to Afridi), so let them hate, but his side is a brilliant one

[Abdullah22]

Times have changed.

These ties are nothing like they were. Living here in England, I've seen plenty of Sri Lankans at Uni. They despise Pakistanis and always support Indians in matches.

The year 2009 didn't help at all, but honestly, I think while Pakistanis probably like-ish Sri Lankans, the feeling isn't mutual anymore.


Hehehe

That's no way to judge a nation.

I have seen many examples and came to the following conclusion that people who grow up in foreign lands, in most cases don't represent the same attitude as those from their nation.

[ShehryarK]

Haters will hate Sangakkara for being aggressive and "rude" (which he is definitely not off the field and rarely on the field)

Hardly. He's generally very graceless off the field too - eg his post-match comments after Pak had spanked them in the T20s etc. Doesn't praise the opposition properly, is not generous or gracious in defeat. More like a sore, whining loser off the field.

On it, he's an excitable and annoying character who makes Moin Khan look dignified.

[*sallu*]

You are judging his off the field antics on 1 interview.

Didn't Imran Khan forget to thank and praise his team mates and the country in the 1992 world cup final?
Point being, sometimes on the big occassion, under a million cameras and a billion eyes, players can forget to say something.

For the odd occassion where Sangakkara has spoken like you do say so, there are a 100 other occassions where he has spoken brilliantly and I love reading/watching what he says.
And its not only me, many cricketers/experts who know Sangakkara, consider him to be a true gentleman off the field
Who are you and me to judge better?

And as for on the field, there is nothing wrong in being aggressive on the field, as I said, we hail our Afridis and Akhtars as heroes full of passion yet when any one of the opposition does it, they are suddenly whiny and arrogant

[blinding light]

A heart warming article. A very nice read!!! I always back Sri Lanka after Pakistan.

[ShehryarK]

You are judging his off the field antics on 1 interview.

Didn't Imran Khan forget to thank and praise his team mates and the country in the 1992 world cup final? Very different. Sanga ignored the opposition - on the other hand, Imran first and foremost did commiserate with Gooch.
And its not only me, many cricketers/experts who know Sangakkara, consider him to be a true gentleman off the field
Who are you and me to judge better? We are two expert PPers. What more is required? :D

And as for on the field, there is nothing wrong in being aggressive on the field, as I said, we hail our Afridis and Akhtars as heroes full of passion yet when any one of the opposition does it, they are suddenly whiny and arrogant Obviously - that's natural - to support own players or want them to do well! Why would we want the opposition to annoy our players?

For the same reason, opposition fans might not like Akhtar or Saeed Ajmal or Gul or Umar Akmal's aggression / sledging, but we as Pak fans like it, and we like it when they annoy the opposition! The opposition fans on the other hand are okay with their own players sledging us, and we don't like it as the opposition could gain a slight competitive edge through it.

[*sallu*]

Sanagakkara the "whiny loser" off the field

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-west-indies-2010/content/story/487947.html

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2010/content/story/482672.html
(read comments on Warne in response to his criticism)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sl-tri2010/content/story/473108.html

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sl-tri2010/content/story/472135.html

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-india-2010/content/story/471417.html

I could go on and on and on, just setting the misconception straight that Sangakkara does not appreciate his opponents.

[*sallu*]

Very different. Sanga ignored the opposition - on the other hand, Imran first and foremost did commiserate with Gooch.
We are two expert PPers. What more is required? :D

Read my post above, plenty of articles where Sangakkara has appreciated the opponents.
Plenty to suggest that ignoring to appreciate Pakistan was more of an honest mistake rather than purposeful ignorance.

Obviously - that's natural - to support own players or want them to do well! Why would we want the opposition to annoy our players. For the same reason, opposition fans might not like Akhtar or Saeed Ajmal or Gul or Umar Akmal's aggression / sledging, but we as Pak fans like it, and we like it when they annoy the opposition! The opposition fans on the other hand are okay with their own players sledging us, and we don't like it as the opposition could gain a slight competitive edge through it.

Well, I tend to see it as double standards.
Its ok when you do it, but not okay when others do it?
That sounds more arrogant to me than what Sanagakkara does.

If you can't take it, don't do it.
Its part of the game, and we have no right to "judge" players based on their on-field antics and label them as whiny and losers.

[ShehryarK]

Well, I tend to see it as double standards.
Its ok when you do it, but not okay when others do it?
That sounds more arrogant to me than what Sanagakkara does.

If you can't take it, don't do it.
Its part of the game, and we have no right to "judge" players based on their on-field antics and label them as whiny and losers. You're not really getting the point, deliberately or inadvertently.

No one is saying whether its okay or not!! Hence, there's no question of double standards! :facepalm: And where the "judging" come from!

Did anyone say he's a cheat for doing this? NO! We are talking about whether we "like" it or "admire" it... or on the other hand, find it "annoying".

The point is, we like it when our team does it but do not like it when the opposition does it.

I like it when Akhtar uproots middle stumps and gets hat-tricks. I don't really like it when Irfan Pathan (!) or Stuart Broad does it vs. Pak.

I like it when YK scores a chance less 100. I don't like it when Sehwag and SRT do it vs. Pak.

English fans love Stuart Broad's attitude and commitment, or Jonathan Trott's grittiness. Other team's fan hate those things.

[*sallu*]

You're not really getting the point, deliberately or inadvertently.

No one is saying whether its okay or not!! Hence, there's no question of double standards! :facepalm: And where the "judging" come from!

Did anyone say he's a cheat for doing this? NO! We are talking about whether we "like" it or "admire" it... or on the other hand, find it "annoying".

Haha, the very reason I brought this topic up is that lots of PPers do indeed judge Sangakkara and his Sri Lankan team.
There are plenty of threads where many posters are blatantly calling Sangakkara a cheat and Sanagakkara's Sri Lankan side of poor taste.

I do agree with the part of liking or not liking it, but thats a completely different issue.

Also, stop confusing performance with attitudes.
Yes, we like it if our performances are better than the opposition, but if someone has a specific attitude to cricket, i.e being whiny you shouldn't like it if you're Pakistan or Indian or Sri lankan.
And what I was trying to say was Sanagakkara isn't whiny (which you mentioned)

Also, please do respond to the off-the-field part of the argument? :)

[ShehryarK]

Haha, the very reason I brought this topic up is that lots of PPers do indeed judge Sangakkara and his Sri Lankan team.
There are plenty of threads where many posters are blatantly calling Sangakkara a cheat and Sanagakkara's Sri Lankan side of poor taste.
Yaar I can't speak for a lot of PPers now, can I? :)

Yes, we like it if our performances are better than the opposition, but if someone has a specific attitude to cricket, i.e being whiny you shouldn't like it if you're Pakistan or Indian or Sri lankan.
To be honest, one drives the other - so we want good performance and aggressive winning attitudes frmo our teams...and we don't want it from opposition. If all opposition had great, aggressive winnings attitude, that would make job much harder for our teams - so yes, attitude does impact performance and/or results and hence can indeed be linked.


Also, please do respond to the off-the-field part of the argument? :) I haven't had the time to read all the links but of course I'll take you on your word that he was a graceful loser on a lot of occasions - but again, my perception of him being a sore, whiny loser is affected by that one instance when it mattered, when we defeated him. His saying nice things about others doesn't really help change or affect that, does it.

[Inherent Ignorance]

True.... Ranatunga made Sri lankan cricket. He is the Godfather. On a side note.... Sangakkara is a very very good captain.

[Britstani]

Srilankans are top people! I remember when we were on the tube making our way to the T20 WC final at lords....our carriage was full of lankans and we had a great time discussing our teams....wished eachother good luck when we got off and made way to the ground.

[uzairbb]

Like most pakistanis my 2nd side is also Sri Lanka. My parents have visited the country and were very impressed on the whole, they say that even the taxi and rikshaw drivers could speak good english and the society on the whole is tolerant and civilized. Living in Dubia and earlier in Saudi Arabia i had good interaction with Sri Lankan people and they had respect for our country and one thing that did kind of surprised me was that many muslims in Sri lanka support Pakistan even when we play against their country. From a realistic perspective we can expect Sri Lanka to lift the trophy this time.

[PakWC'11Champs]

Sri Lanka has always been my 2nd team. If Pakistan can't win the WC, I would actually be happy if SL won it again. I have always had a soft spot for them. Don't know why.

[*sallu*]

I haven't had the time to read all the links but of course I'll take you on your word that he was a graceful loser on a lot of occasions - but again, my perception of him being a sore, whiny loser is affected by that one instance when it mattered, when we defeated him. His saying nice things about others doesn't really help change or affect that, does it.

So, according to this logic, you think Imran Khan doesn't care about Pakistan because he didn't mention/thank Pakistan and the players in his speech?

[Rana]

I live near a lot of Sri Lankans. They are very nice people and are very freindly with pakistanis.