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Fundamental Cricket Rules

In the bat-and-ball sport of cricket, two teams of eleven players each compete. A rectangular pitch sits in the middle of a circular or oval field where the game is played. While the bowling and fielding team wants to minimize the runs and get rid of the batsmen, the batting team’s primary goal is to score as many runs as they can. Here is a summary of the key guidelines:

1.Roles and Teams

Eleven players from each squad alternate between batting and fielding. While the fielding team consists of a bowler and fielders who try to get the batsmen out, the batting team consists of two players on the field at once who are trying to score runs.

2.The Wickets and Pitch

The pitch, a 22-yard strip with wickets at either end, is where the game is played. Every wicket has three stumps with two tiny bails on top. To get the batsman out, the bowler attempts to strike the stumps.

3.Runs for Points

Either striking the ball to the boundary or hitting it and running between the wickets will score you runs. Six runs are scored if the ball passes the boundary without making contact with the ground. It counts as four runs if it bounces before it reaches the border.

4.Bowling and Overs

Bowlers deliver the ball overhand, aiming to dismiss the batsman. Each bowler bowls six legal balls in an “over.” After each over, a new bowler takes over, and teams usually have multiple bowlers in a match.

5.Ways to Get Out

There are several ways a batsman can be dismissed:

• Bowled: The ball hits the stumps.
• Caught: The ball is caught by a fielder without bouncing.
• Leg Before Wicket (LBW): The ball hits the batsman’s leg in front of the stumps.
• Run Out: A fielder hits the stumps with the ball while the batsman is outside the crease.
• Stumped: The wicketkeeper removes the bails if the batsman leaves the crease.

6.Match Formats

Cricket has various formats:

• Test Matches: The longest format, lasting up to five days with two innings per team.
• One Day Internationals (ODIs): Each team bats for up to 50 overs.
• Twenty20 (T20): A fast-paced game with each team batting for 20 overs.

7.Winning the Game

The team with the most runs at the end of the match wins. In some formats, if both teams score the same number of runs, the match may end in a tie or a super over is played to determine the winner.

Cricket in Pakistani

With themes like “responding” to New Zealand for calling off a match or “seeking retribution” for alleged atrocities against Muslims by defeating India, cricket in Pakistan has been entwined with politics and religion. On social media, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad hailed Pakistan’s recent victory over India in the T20 Cricket World Cup as a “triumph for Islam,” a view that Muslims around the world echo.

Pakistani fans waved flags and sang patriotic slogans in the streets as they celebrated their country’s maiden World Cup triumph over India. Cricket, which has a unique place in both India and Pakistan, has always been impacted by the hostility between the two nations that has existed since their independence in 1947 and the ongoing conflicts over Kashmir. Following India’s defeat, anti-Indian stories and memes were widely shared on Pakistani social media.

When Religion and Nationalism Collide

Nationalistic zeal has long been stoked by the cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan, but religion has also become a major factor in more recent years. The administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is perceived by many Pakistanis as limiting the rights of Indian Muslims. Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, has called Modi’s government “fascist,” claiming that it imposes anti-Muslim laws throughout India, not just in Kashmir. Some people believe that Pakistan’s cricket success is a symbolic “justice” for Indian Muslims, and Interior Minister Ahmad’s depiction of it as a “victory of Islam” reinforces this view.

This type of statement is often used by politicians who want to stir religious zeal, according to Pakistani social scientist Nadeem Farooq Paracha. “Bringing Islam into everything is a default for many politicians,” he said, referring to the fact that some public figures frequently resort to religion when they are struggling to meet expectations.

The Evolution of Cricket as a Religious Activity

Pakistani cricket players have always kept their religious beliefs to themselves, but Imran Khan, the current prime minister, is an example of a more Westernized lifestyle. However, over the past 20 years, many cricket players have taken sides with religious groups such as the Tablighi Jamaat. Once renowned for living a lavish lifestyle, Khan now espouses conservative views and worries about the development of Western culture in Pakistan.

Some athletes publicly incorporate religious statements into their public personas. For instance, batsman Muhammad Rizwan was praised on social media for praying on the pitch during the match against India. Former cricket player Waqar Yunis later apologized for his initial remarks, saying that Rizwan’s on-field prayer was “special in front of Hindus,” adding that he made the comment “in the heat of the moment.” “These religious traditions give players the idea that they have given it their best and that God will decide the outcome,” say supporters like Qaiser Iqbal from Karachi.

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Islamization of Cricket: A Shift in Culture

Observers claim that in the early 2000s, the Tablighi Jamaat’s influence over Pakistani cricket’s best players started to take on a more religious tone. Paracha claims that after Pakistan’s poor performance at the 2003 World Cup, a number of players used religious acts as a form of atonement. During this period, the apparent religiosity of cricket players increased.

Cricket as a Social Diversion

Sociologists say that sports are often used to divert attention from more important social issues. In Pakistan, cricket serves as a unifying distraction, particularly during difficult times. Paracha noted that while cricket unites Pakistan, it also diverts attention from issues facing the country’s leadership and economy. Sulehria, another observer, argues that sports can also be advantageous, pointing to cricket’s usage in Afghanistan as a form of resistance against the Taliban and as a political diversion in Pakistan and India.

Pakistan is facing one of its worst economic crises, with a sinking currency and skyrocketing inflation. Cricket does provide the administration with a unifying platform, but Sulehria believes this approach is short-term and will not be able to sustain the government’s support over time.

Initially hailed as a “messiah” after leading Pakistan to its first World Cup triumph, Imran Khan entered politics in an attempt to address the country’s broader issues. Even though some analysts argue that using cricket as a political tool could mask more complex concerns, supporters still think he can “fix” Pakistan’s problems.

The Evolution of Imran Khan from Political Figure to Cricket Icon

Imran Khan, a former cricket legend who grew up in a rich Lahore household and received his schooling in England, captained Pakistan’s national side. His cricket career peaked in 1992 when he guided Pakistan to a World Cup victory. Khan, famed for his charm, entered politics and in 1996 created the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Even though his political career got off to a rough start, he eventually gained notoriety and assisted PTI in winning the 2018 general elections.

Known as a political reformer, Khan focused on fighting poverty and corruption while promising a “Islamic welfare state”. His path from cricket to politics has been filled with ups and downs, including conflicting views on terrorism and foreign policy. Khan’s supporters believe his leadership skills might help Pakistan, but some analysts caution that the symbolic use of cricket could ultimately oversimplify the country’s complex issues.

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