Cricket World Cup 2023 the new launchpad for Islamism?

Cricket World Cup 2023: Well, folks, if you thought the 2022 FIFA World Cup was a masterclass in how NOT to organize a sporting event, hold on to your cricket bats, because the cricketing world is about to show you how it’s done… or not.

Today marks the official kickoff of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, but instead of fireworks and fanfare, it’s gaining attention for all the wrong reasons. Seriously, it’s like they’re trying to outdo every sporting mishap in history.

First off, there’s the ticket allocation fiasco. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack to get your hands on a ticket. Then, the warm-up matches have been plagued by unexpected rain, as if Mother Nature herself is having a laugh at our expense. And let’s not even talk about the theme songs; they’re so cringe-worthy that even your cat would cover its ears.

But wait, there’s more! Now, there’s this bizarre attempt from across the border to turn the ICC World Cup 2023 into a launchpad for religious extremists. Yes, you read that right. It’s like they think this tournament is a matter of life and death for peddling their agenda.

So, buckle up, cricket fans, because this World Cup promises to be a rollercoaster of chaos and surprises. Whether you’re here for the cricket or the circus that seems to be unfolding around it, one thing’s for sure – you won’t be bored.

Hayden’s sudden love for Islam

Picture this: a warm-up match between Australia and Pakistan, just a casual day in the world of cricket, right? Wrong. Australian opener Matthew Hayden and our very own Ramiz Raja decided to turn the BCCI-backed ICC World Cup 2023 into an unexpected platform for, wait for it… promoting Islam.

Yes, you heard that right. While commentating during the game, Matthew Hayden couldn’t resist diving into a topic that seemed as out of place as a penguin in the Sahara. He started talking about how much he admires Pakistan’s focus on Islam and how it has made their cricket unit disciplined.

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Hayden, in his charming Aussie accent, said, “Well, it’s very focused around Islam, which is the central and core thing to this playing unit. And that principle and the way of life leads to great discipline, which I greatly admire. After all, cricket is very much a discipline as well. You have to be committed. You have to be invested, and you have to be consistent.”

Now, call me skeptical, but discipline and Pakistan don’t exactly go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly. It’s like saying Hitler’s Nazi Germany was all about religious harmony, or suggesting that Mohammad Ali Jinnah was a fan of Akhand Bharat. I mean, we don’t need a degree in rocket science to know how great Pakistan’s fielding.

But here’s the kicker – Matthew Hayden wasn’t just any random commentator. Nope, apart from being a dependable Australian legend, he was the coach of the Pakistan cricket team during the T20 World Cup 2021 and T20 World Cup 2022. In fact, back in November 2021, in an interview with News Corp Australia, Hayden revealed that Pakistani cricketer Muhammad Rizwan had gifted him an English version of the Quran.

Now, we’re all for personal beliefs and choices, but maybe someone should’ve reminded Hayden to keep his personal preferences out of the stadium and leave the religious endorsements to another platform.

Why the hell is BCCI and ICC mum on this?

Ah, cricket and religion – it’s like trying to mix oil and water on the field, a recipe for chaos. The recent episode with Matthew Hayden and his commentary on Islam during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 is a glaring example of how this blend can turn sour.

But hold on, folks, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen religious extremism rear its head in the world of sports, especially in cricket. Pakistan seems to have a knack for using the cricket field as a platform to push their religious agenda. Remember the heated exchange between Tilakratne Dilshan and Ahmed Shahzad?

And if you missed that episode, I’m sure you haven’t forgotten how Pakistan attributed their thunderous victory over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup to Islam. I mean, sure, religion can be a great motivator, but crediting divine intervention for a cricket win? That’s a stretch, even by sports standards.

But wait, there’s more. Remember when Mohammad Rizwan recited the Namaz in front of Hindus during the India versus Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup? It’s like they turned a cricket match into a religious ceremony. Talk about a boundary between sports and faith being crossed!

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What’s baffling, though, is that while all of this religious fervor was unfolding on the cricket field, the BCCI and the ICC, the apex governing body of cricket, remained silent spectators. They watched as a bunch of radicalized individuals hijacked the game and used its massive reach to promote their religious beliefs, all while representing their countries as sportspersons or commentators. Funnily, this conspicuous silence was not visible when MS Dhoni was forced to remove his wicketkeeping gloves in ICC World Cup 2019, just because it had the Para SF’s Balidaan badge on it! Hypocrisy much?

And if that’s not enough to make you raise an eyebrow, here’s the kicker: those who have displayed communal bigotry against Hindus have been rewarded with lucrative contracts and included in the commentary panel for the Cricket World Cup 2023. Yes, you heard that right. The likes of Waqar Younis and Zainab Abbas, who have shown a clear bias against non-Muslims, are sitting in the commentator’s box.

We thought the Qatar edition of the FIFA World Cup was the worst blend of sports and politics, but the current edition of the ICC World Cup seems to be giving it a run for its money. So, as the World Cup unfolds, keep an eye out for more surprises, both on and off the field, because in the world of cricket, you never quite know what’s coming next.

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