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More than a Match?

Does an India-Pak Match need any publicity? Obviously, it doesn't, specially when it's after a long break. Then why does it have to be so "in the face". People are knowledgeable enough to understanding the gravity of the event, at the stage as huge as the World Cup, and in a match as important as the semi-final. No team wants to lose, no team wants to think about losing but one will lose.

This is not "just another game". It brings from within the people the inherent hatred that is there for the other nation and for some, towards the other community. A show of hostility, lets them express their true feelings. It's an event to cherish for every one; the Opportunists, the Pessimists, the Xenophobic and the Remaining.

The Hype is not because there is a match between two teams but because it's an arena for everyone to showcase their products; the patriotism, the loyalty, the modesty, the courtesy and the tolerance. None of which they might actually possess. The forth estate of our esteemed Motherland seems to find nothing worthwhile other than a game of cricket between two countries, which would last not more than the 8 hours. This in a country which has scams, rapes, murders happening every hour.

The event is way beyond cricket and cricketers now; it's about diplomacy, votes, bureaucracy and the corporates. The patriotism possessed by the common men is something they don't possess even in traces. It's all about the footage, the PR that they can gain.

In the middle of all this, remember we have a game that would be played, which could like any other game in any other sport, have any of the two possible result with equal probabilities. All the other possibilities do exist to. It could be a one sided game. The Pundit in everyone might disagree with me here but the fact remains.

Supporting one's team is no measure of someone's patriotism. There is no greater patriot than the man serving our nation at the Siachen and I believe he has no access to this larger than life game involving larger than life Heroes. But none is truer than him.

For 8-10 hrs tomorrow, I too will lose myself to the hysteria and probably the connection with reality. Because that's what sports is meant to be, a form of entertainment. I will forget about everything and cheer India! But, I promise to return to the reality and think rationally after it.

Lots of respect for everyone who won't be able to watch the match tomorrow, the soldiers, the train drivers, the farmers; they are the true patriots and not the one's attending it. I as someone who will be watching it tomorrow; realise its not something patriotic I am doing for my country; it's just another one of those things I love. The hockey match of the same country wasn't so keenly awaited event for me.

"Overvaluing your own contribution while undermining other's; you lose touch with reality."

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