The Last Over Controversy

When Cricket Humor Crosses the Line                   

Recently, former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh lambasted former Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal for the latter’s insensitive comment on Sikhs, in response to which Kamran Akmal apologised. In the recently held India-Pakistan match in the just concluded T-20 World Cup (which India won in a thrilling contest against South Africa by 8 runs), Kamran, who is now a cricket administrator and a coach, made an insensitive comment on Sikhs while commenting on the bowling of Arshdeep Singh, in the last over of the match.

“Kuch bhi ho sakta hai… Dekhe last over karna Arshdeep Singh ne hai. Waise uska rhythm nahi laga. 12 bajj gaye hai (Anything can happen. The last over will be bowled by Arshdeep Singh; he hasn’t looked in a great rhythm. And it is already 12pm),” were the exact words of Kamran Akmal. He also added, “kisi Sikh ko nahi dena chaiye 12 baje over,” which translates to no Sikh should be given the permission to bowl an over at 12 pm.

Here, it deserves a mention that a reference to 12 p.m. is used as a common and utterly crude joke on Sikhs, rampantly in India and in many other places. It jocularly assumes that at 12 p.m., the mind of Sikhs starts going haywire. It is generally not meant as a slander to the Sikh community at all but only used as a lighthearted joke, meaning no offense. Few Sikhs do mind it and other jokes on Sikhs.

 Harbhajan Lambasts Kamran

However, Harbhajan took it as a slander on the Sikhs. In response to the controversial comment of the former batsman and wicketkeeper, the former off-spinner vented his anger on X while giving him a brief lesson on the history of Sikhs. “Lakh di laanat tere Kamraan Akhmal. You should know the history of Sikhs before u open ur filthy mouth. We Sikhs saved our mothers and sisters when they were abducted by invaders; the time invariably was 12 o’clock. Shame on you guys… Have some Gratitude,” were his not-so-moderate words. 

 Most probably, Kamran referred to 12 pm in jest and didn’t mean any disrespect to the Sikh community, whose contributions to building India are world-renowned, but in this excessively politically correct and sensitive religious climate, he should have been more careful with his words, especially in his capacity as a commentator in a match which is being watched by the viewers across the world. At the same time, his intention of slander behind this apparent joke can also not be ruled out altogether. But whatever may be the logic behind his provocative utterances, it needs to be condemned.

 Akmal’s comment generated quick outrage among netizens, who justifiably condemned his insensitive attempt at humour.

 It is good that Kamran unconditionally apologised after two days of putting his foot in the mouth, probably in an attempt to put an end to the controversy, which was threatening to go bigger. “I deeply regret my recent comments and sincerely apologise to @harbhajan_singh and the Sikh community. My words were inappropriate and disrespectful. I have the utmost respect for Sikhs all over the world and never intended to hurt anyone. I am truly sorry,” Akmal wrote on X.

 However, doubt of Kamran on Arshdeep Singh’s ability proved to be wrong as the young Sikh bowler took the wicket of Imad Wasim in the last over of the Indo-Pak match and also prevented the Pakistan team from scoring five of the remaining 18 runs needed to win the match in the game’s last over. He immensely contributed to India’s six-run win in the T20 nail-biter against Pakistan with his medium-fast bowling.

 Controversial Precedence

Of course, it is not the first time that a renowned cricketer or a renowned former cricketer made such a controversial comment, on or off the field. In fact, the comment of former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi after Pakistan’s defeat in the semi-finals of the 2011 ICC World Cup can still singe many a patriotic Indian’s mind.

He commented that Indians had a ‘very negative approach’ and they were not large-hearted. “In my opinion, if I have to tell the truth, they (Indians) will never have hearts like Muslims and Pakistanis. I don’t think they have large and clean hearts that Allah has given us,” he said. And we cannot give the benefit of the doubt to him for that reprehensible and clearly communal comment as there was no hint of a jocular element in it.

In an ongoing test match between India and England at Southampton in 2014, Moeen Ali, England’s all-rounder and presently the Vice-captain of England’s cricket team in limited overs cricket, wore a wristband having the words ‘Save Gaza and Free Palestine,’ probably with the objective to attract international attention to the long-drawn conflict in the Middle East. That action was followed by a warning by the English Cricket Board, which barred him from making political statements on the cricket field.

Some time back, former Australian wicket-keeper Ian Healy made an insulting remark when former Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga asked for a runner on a hot day during an ODI match between Sri Lanka and Australia. “You don’t get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat c@#t.”

In the climate of hyperactive social media, where the lives of celebrities are continually inspected microscopically by netizens, it is becoming more and more dangerous for people in the public eye to tread on controversial comments.