From bombs to trophies, cricket thrives in Peshawar
KARACHI: Peshawar won their second consecutive Twenty20 title this week with players and coaches hailing falling levels of violence for helping the sport prosper in the Taliban-plagued region.
The city of four million has been at the forefront of a rebellion that rose up more than a decade ago which seeks to topple the government and replace it with a hardline Islamic emirate.
For years, Taliban suicide bombers were able to strike almost at will as people feared leaving their homes even to go out shopping.
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| This photo taken on September 14, 2015 shows Peshawar cricket team opener Raffatullah Mohmand batting against Sialkot during the National T20 semi-final at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. — AFP |
But the situation has improved markedly since the government began major military offensives in the North Waziristan tribal district last year aimed at clearing Taliban and Al-Qaeda bases.
On Monday night, Peshawar defended their national T20 title in Rawalpindi, beating by seven wickets a star-studded Karachi side featuring national T20 captain Shahid Afridi and his deputy Sarfraz Ahmed.
Lahore and Karachi have been the country's traditional bases of cricketing power, with smaller towns and cities in prosperous Punjab province also supplying the national side in recent years.
Now, it appears Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province — home to ethnic Pashtuns who are celebrated for their bravery and prowess in battle — is flourishing.
Peshawar coach Abdul Rehman admitted cricket success came after action against militancy.
“It was tough to bring kids to the cricket grounds with bombs going on,” Rehman said. “Parents were scared of sending their kids, but since the military operation cricket has flourished in KP in general and Peshawar in particular.”
Peshawar players match the cavalier approach of the fast-rising Afghanistan team, some of whom also learned the game in refugee camps around the city.
‘Fearless cricket’
Peshawar's never-say-die approach was the highlight of the tournament as they successfully chased stiff targets in four of the their five group matches and beat six-time champions Sialkot in semis — also batting second.
Rehman said bravery typifies Pashtuns, the inhabitants of the province.
“We never go easy on our enemy, be it on the ground or in the battlefield,” said Rehman. “I told my boys not to fear anyone and play fearless cricket which has become the norm of international cricket with the advent of T20,” he added.
Peshawar's outstanding performers included 27-year-old Imran Khan from Swat Valley, which was also home to Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.
Khan was the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 16 victims, his well-disguised slower deliveries accounting for many.
During his spell of 3-26 off four overs in the final he bowled four untouched deliveries which baffled the hard-hitting Afridi.
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| This photo taken on September 14, 2015 shows Pakistani paceman Imran Khan Junior (C) from the Peshawar cricket team celebrating the dismissal of a Sialkot player during the National T20 semi-final at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi. — AFP |
But he wouldn't be playing the game at all if his scenic home region was still in the clutches of the Taliban, who held sway there from 2007 to 2009.
“I started playing cricket only after a military operation [in 2009] cleared Swat Valley,” he said. “Now life is normal in Swat and we can go the grounds.”
Imran was also the best bowler when Peshawar won the title last year — and has now been picked to make his national debut in a two-match T20 series against Zimbabwe in Harare later this month.
Peshawar opener Raffatullah Mohmand hoped more of his fellow players would get a chance at national level.
“It may be too late for me but I am sure these two T20 titles will go a long way in establishing Peshawar players as international stars,” said Mohmand, 38.
Pakistan's national cricket academy head coach Mohammad Akram said he was looking forward to tapping the groundswell of talent.
“The north-west is an untapped area and with the improving situation we can get good players from there,” he said.
Comments (27) Closed
Should PTI be credited for this, after all world's best cricketer is leading KPK / Peshawar.
A bit of credit should also be given to the provincial government in KPK that has built several play-grounds in district councils and is now building grounds in every union council.
If only Karachi was given the same authority as KPK has been. No new stadiums have been built in Karachi for decades.
If I was the chief selector I would've gotten half of the Peshawar team in the national team. Rafatullah, Rizwan, Iftikhar, Zohaib Khan (the captain) and Imran Khan Junior should be given chances in the national team. Their coach should also be given a chance and should be made a part of our national coaching staff just to show the other local coaches that good coaching pays off .
Way to go...i so wish to see Mr. Raffatullah Mohmand in the national team. 1 chance, 1 series..need to acknowledge one's service to their team irrespective of age. He's fit, performing..then why not?
But glad to see these lads performing well, KPK govt should step forward and award them. They deserve this. What brilliance. Loved every bit of it.
The greatest cricket legends are pashtuns. Imran Khan won world up, younis khan won t20 world cup both won by pashtun captains. The whole international cricket team should be immediately replaced by Peshawar national team they won all matches chasing the target. PCB should seriously consider this.
better governance speaks for itself, it doesnt need to run marathon of self projecting advertisement on public taxes.
Well done Peshawar boys. Keep it up.
Greetings from Karachi.
Pathans are famous for fearless attitude and my word this was real demonstration of fearless cricket. Superb performance Peshawar Team!!!!
@Karachi Wally Not at all, reason being PTI has not institutionalized cricket structure in KP nor they have given any financial help to the struggling players of the region, it is the departments and local tournament which are taking care of the "Talented Players", moreover, credit should be given to the "Players & Coach "who despite miserable conditions: be it regional safety and security or typical "Parchii System" have managed to devise a winning strategy and have successfully defended the T20 Title.
One think is for sure, team Peshawar can play cricket with brave heart. Their approach to the game is positive. Well done guys.
2 years back - someone said during the inauguration of talent hunt program in Peshawar that within 2 years, Peshawar will be among the strongest teams at national level ... And that someone was Imran Khan :) ...
@Kashif Syed ,,, next time elect PTI
@Talha : We keep good coaches at this level to make and send better players for the national team. Role of a coach is more important at this level than at the national level as players face biggest learning curve in their game at this point.
Bravo team KPK!!! Good governance just hit a six!!!
It seems that things in KP are becoming democratic where people can be free and express themselves and live in security and happiness. In contrast in Sindh things look bleak, insecure, fear, and intimidated due to political mafia.
They were sublime and i am sure a lot of those players will get PSL contracts and national caps. They made a lot of new fans and i am one of them. Go Peshawar.
I dont understand what Umar akmal and ahmed shazad have done in T20 to deserve selection beside being good friends with captain Afraidi
Its a shame to see talented player of Peshawar being ignored for personal liking.
Status quo defeated based on pure merit!
@shan Isn't that enough? Afridi will be leading Pakistan team down again in the next T20 world cup.
@Jawad
Correction....
Imran Khan is NOT Pukhtun. Both his parents are Jalandhre Punjabi. That makes his Punjabi. NO? Show me any Niazi who speaks Pashto?
proud of my team Peshawar players. heartiest congrats to you all. you have proved yourselves despite of all the odds against you.
Extremely proud of our Pathan brothers.
Thanks Dawn for encouraging the deprived people of Peshawar and KPK. The people of KPK are simple, more offenly honest and hard working. But these traits are considered foolishness and immaturity in the eyes of the self proclaimed intelligent majority.
@Lakhkar Khan you are not pushtoon by language. It is by race. A pushtoon living in jalandher or Europe is as pushtoon as someone from peshawar speaking pashtu.
@zafar if he did not have support of the two, he would not be captain. I agree with you that should be enough for hardworking, puristic souls of peshawar, with lot more talent be ignored completely, I feel embarrassed just writing these lines.....
A lot of credit has to be given to the KPK police and the provincial government.