Pakistan fans pray for win over India

By Hasan Mansoor

 

Thousands of Pakistanis are expected to take part in mass prayer sessions, asking God to guide them to victory against India in the hotly anticipated World Cup cricket semi-final on Wednesday.

By Hasan Mansoor

 

Karachi: Mar 30, 2011

 

Thousands of Pakistanis are expected to take part in mass prayer sessions, asking God to guide them to victory against India in the hotly anticipated World Cup cricket semi-final on Wednesday.

 

On the eve of the match, around 1,200 people congregated in the Jamia Binoria madrassa in Karachi, reciting Koranic verses in its glossy-tiled mosque before loudly praying for victory in the epic encounter.

 

“Our boys (in the cricket team) are highly talented and God-fearing, which is why we have gathered here to pray for their success,” said Mufti Mohammad Naeem, the head of the madrassa. Pakistan is a deeply conservative country where the vast majority of the population are practicing Muslims. Pakistan have not beaten India in any of their four previous World Cup matches dating back to 1992.

 

Tapping into the hysteria that India can inspire in Pakistan, seminary pupil Wali Ahmed, 18, claimed the prayer was a fitting reply to “black magic”. “We pray to Allah to make our team victorious and foil the black magic and occult being exercised by the Indians to beat us,” said an enthusiastic Ahmed.

 

“Everything occurs with the will of Allah, so it is necessary to pray for everything which we strive to succeed in,” said local resident Mushtaq Ali. Similar congregations convened in mosques in the southern city Hyderabad.

 

Hindu and Christian minorities also joined prayers for a Pakistani victory. In the city’s main Soldier Bazaar Temple, 30-year-old Hindu, Prashotam Lal, with his head covered with traditional crimson scarf, said he came with his family to pray for the team’s success. “My whole family is praying for our country’s win. It doesn’t matter we are not Muslims. We are as patriotic Pakistanis as the rest,” he said.

 

Wilson Kamran, a Christian office worker, said he had been to church to pray for Pakistan’s victory. “I rise early and go to the church in my neighbourhood for Pakistan’s win,” said.

 

“Our country has been brutalised because of terrorism, no one comes here to play cricket. This win can change the world’s mind who have turned their backs to us.” Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of Pakistan’s largest province Punjab, promised each team member 25 acres of land if they beat India at Mohali.

 

“The Punjab government will give 25 acres of fertile land to each member of the team as a prize if they beat India,” Sharif told journalists. Sharif said the whole nation will pray for Pakistan’s win.

 

“Our team deserves appreciation… for displaying outstanding performance in different matches of the World Cup and the whole nation will be praying for its success,” said Sharif.

 

© AFP

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