Cricket and a TV channel

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

A TV channel recently showed some boys playing cricket. Then on a hit from a batsman the ball smashes a windowpane.

Exactly that moment a singer starts singing Naheed Akhtar’s famous song, `Allah hi Allah kiya karo’. The boys listen to the song, abandon play and go home.

Moral of the story: Cricket is a bad thing and is the very opposite of religion.

Is this really what a TV channel should do? Is cricket — or any sport for that matter: soccer, hockey, tennis and volleyball: anti-religion?

And if all sports are bad and constitute criminal activity, what should Pakistani boys do in spare time – burn, kill, learn terrorism, don suicide jackets?

Is this the message the TV channel should give to Pakistan’s youth? Once world champions in hockey and cricket, Pakistan are now at the bottom in cricket and hockey leagues.

If the TV channel concerned cannot contribute to a renaissance of our hockey and cricket, the least it can do is not discourage boys from taking part in such a healthy activity as sport.

RIZWAN YASSIN Karachi

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Newspaper

KE monopoly has to come to an end

What do you think a kid would be happier with doing, playing the sport he loves or reciting something that he does not even understand? who would you like to have have your ideal as, a Maulvi of your local mosque or Imran Khan who brought the world cup for Pakistan? Aren't there enough mullas in the mosques to spread the Islam? I guess the youth of Pakistan should invest more time in reading the science and maths than Quran as that is the need of the time.

Recommend 0

SHERYAAR

Sep 04, 2012 11:50am

DEAR RIZWAN I THINK U REALLY NEED TO THINK FIRST BEFORE U WRITE SUCH A ARTICLE.. U MENTIONED WHAT WOULD YOUTH SHOULD DO IN THEIR FREE TIME IF THEY DONT PLAY. YES PLAYING IS NO SIN IF ITS DONE NOT ON PRAYER TIMES.. BUT IF URE SKIPPING UR PRAYERS FOR THESE SPORTS U ASK UR SELF IS THAT RIGHT OR WRONG? SECONDLY OUR YOUTH CAN DO ALOT BESIDE PLAYING .. THEY CAN READ QURAN WITH MEANING AND PASS THIE TIME GUIDING PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT PATH.. FROM UR ARTICLLE IT DODNT SEEM LIKE A PRIORITY BUT THATS THE TRUTH. U CAN READ AND LEARN ALOT ABOUT ISLAM IF U DO THAT IN UR FREE TIME AND THIS WILL MAKE U UNDERSTAND BETTER THAT WHAT ISLAM WANTS FROM HUMAN KIND...

Recommend 0

gory

Sep 04, 2012 05:09pm

A little less prayer and some fun will do no harm.

Recommend 0

dhk

Sep 04, 2012 06:23pm

I really hope you spend some time thinking and not imposing half baked ideas about religion to others. THis kind of holier-than-thou piety and urge to impose it on others is what pakistan is most suffering from.

Recommend 0

Razzaq

Sep 04, 2012 07:23pm

What about TV news channels mixing cheap songs with news items? It only shows their mental and seriousness level.

Recommend 0

umer

Sep 04, 2012 07:40pm

my dear .... ITS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS ...... take care of your own country and your own issues ....

Recommend 0

Gerry D'Cunha

Sep 04, 2012 08:49am

Rizwan: reading your article,makes me to understand that everything in pakistan is going upside down in the name of islam (peaceful religion) 'allah hi allah kiya karo'.

Recommend 0

Akhter Husain

Sep 04, 2012 01:29pm

The song out of context should not be given any meaning and take it as it is without interpretations. What Islam has to do with The Song and the Cricket.

Recommend 0

Akeel R

Sep 04, 2012 09:53pm

Nice one.. Pakistan Zindabad..

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Why SQD-Mini LED is the display breakthrough we’ve been waiting for?

The display industry is entering a new phase, where reducing trade-offs is as important as pushing performance limits.

The Palms at Silk Gardens introduces a new family address in Karachi

The Palms places families at the heart of its vision, offering thoughtfully planned 2 and 3-bedroom units in a secure, peaceful and community-led environment.