Imran Khan didn't follow our 11-Verse Cricketing Mantra
The Sticky Wicket of Politics: Imran Khan and Navjot Sidhu's not-so-perfect Partnership-- can we blame the stars? (pun intended)
Author: KBS Sidhu, Date: August 18, 2018
Throwback 5 Years
Nearly five years ago, as his fans were saluting Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi on his new innings as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan, little did we know that the game was just beginning to heat up. The former Captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team had stepped onto a different pitch, trading his cricketing gear for the ‘salwar-kameez’ in the unpredictable game of politics.
Amidst the applause and fanfare, in the stands, a familiar face was seen, our very own ‘Sixer Sidhu.’ Navjot Singh Sidhu. The cricketing comrade from across the border and then a Cabinet Minister in the Indian Punjab, had driven across the Wagah Border to cheer his friend. The public hug shared with Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had created quite a stir, but that's cricket, or shall we say politics, for you.
Our Game-plan for Imran Khan: 11 points and the 12th man.
We, on our part, had extended our heartiest congratulations to Imran with a tongue-in-cheek cricketing guide to survive the Pakistani political pitch. Whether he followed the same or not, or whether our gems of wisdom were valuable or not, we leave for our readers to decide but here’s a recap of our witty, or shall be say bre_witty, playbook:
You are the Captain of your Cabinet Team but remember a “General” is senior in rank to a “Captain”.
There's no "neutral umpire"; the judiciary is anything but independent.
Duck the sticky wickets: Kashmir, Balochistan, and Afghanistan.
Don't "run out" of options and partners.
Appeal often: Pakistani people (‘awaam’) for support, austerity and posterity; judiciary to “bail” you out and Army for (launching) pads and guards.
Your policies: don’t "declare" prematurely.
Your policies: don’t "declare" too late.
“Sidhuisms” can score more than mere altruism in politics.
Don’t go in for “boundaries” (borders), either along the ground or the ariel route; score in quick singles.
It’s a Five-Year Test Match, not a one-day (night😜 )) affair.
Learn from the neigbouring Captain: It’s better to be divorced to the idea of marriage than to be wedded to the idea of divorce.
Your days of “Maidens” are Over! (This point was contributed by the 12th man).
Fast forward to 2023
Both our cricketing stars have faced their political run outs. Imran Khan got caught behind by a “no-confidence” motion in April 2022 and was later sent to the pavilion (the less-glamorous jail) over the Al-Qadir Trust case. Sidhu, on the other hand, couldn't make his political innings count either. After his Congress Party's defeat— and his own— in the 2022 Punjab elections, he found himself clean bowled by the Supreme Court, which sentenced him to a one-year term in a three-decade-old road rage case. Time to reflect and meditate on the home ground (‘janambhoomi’)?
What the future holds: Much like cricket, form in politics too, is transient, while class remains steadfast. Or does it? As we venture into the cosmic realms of astrology, one can't help but speculate whether the celestial constellations of our stars, Imran Khan and Navjot Sidhu, have conspired against them. Could their "nakshatras" be getting meticulously aligned, much like disciplined fielders, thus shaping the trajectory of their political destinies? And most importantly, is there a 'second inning' poised in the wings for them? We know what Shakespeare thought about, but what’s your take?
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings”
Your thoughts? Over to you, dear readers. Did our cricketing stalwarts miscalculate the yorkers and bouncers of political pitch? Or, were they stumped out because of their recklessness and over-confidence? Will they find a way back to the power crease or will they be just be remembered for their ignominious exits?
We’d love to hear your thoughts and maybe, some cheeky advice for our ex-cricketers? After all, cricket and politics share the same mantra - it ain't over till the last ball is bowled. Pad up, folks! Let’s get this game started.