Daily Times

KARACHI: Beholders stand side by side of the pitch; few sit on footpath while few sit on bikes. The fielders stand prepared gripping their knees. The batsman sets himself in front of the wicket and hits the ground twice with the bat. He looks up and the bowler starts his approach, winding his arm to deliver the ball. No sooner he throws the ball three cars in a row drive through the center of the pitch. Traffic stops play.

Energy replenished after sumptuous Iftars, and Taraweeh prayers done. Youngsters put on their sneakers, take bat & ball and rush to streets. For the cricket-crazed lot, Ramadan and cricket go hand in hand, like Jaam-e-Sheeren syrup and iftar.

Throughout the whole month of Ramadan, the enthusiasts and cricket-lovers of all ages are perspiring profusely in streets and roads, playing well into the night, stopping only when it’s time for Sehri.

Muslims break their fast at sundown and families usually come together to share Iftar, the evening meal. Most people then stay up through the night, until Sehri, the meal eaten just before sunrise.

Between meals, the streets of Karachi – a city more commonly known as the financial heart of Pakistan – comes alive with the sounds of the street cricket matches: the hollow tuk tuk of bat , the clap clap of the batsmen’s rubber flip flops as they make their runs, the enthusiastic applause and cheers of spectators.

In Clifton-near Three Swords , Bath Island , a middle class neighborhood in Karachi, team of boys meets every evening to play cricket match and major intersections become pitches” We all gather here every day and enjoy till the time of Sehri”, said Anwar a regular at these matches .

Search-lights attached to metal coat hangers and slung over power cables and walls of the building provide the lighting. Those who cannot afford floodlighting, wrap their balls with white tape for better visibility. With limited space to play in, some replace the standard cricket ball, which is hard, with a softer ball that will not bounce as far away.

“We cannot afford to manage as many lights to play in the cricket ground rather it is cheaper as well as safe to play in the street as security is concerned”, said a keeper-player.

The teams agree the boundaries of the pitch before play starts and some rules are adapted for the street.” If the ball hits the front building that would be considered as six, if it is caught after it hits one of the poles, the batsman is not out. If it goes over a fence that counts as two runs, under a car is one run and if the ball lands on a roof of any building, the point is replayed”, shares Ali, while fielding adding that their neighbors are nice people as they do not prohibit them to play in the street.” They understand that we just play night cricket in Ramadan and every player belongs to the same area, hence they let us play”, “If a ball breaks a car shield or a window pine , the batting team has to pay for the damage. “We can’t run away,” adds Ali “We live here.”

“Shabey Shabey! The bowler throws the ball, it approaches its destination, the batsman hits the ball and its six!” one of the spectators, Zohaib Ali says while doing energetic commentary rejoiced with laughter. “I do not play; I just come here to watch cricket and do commentary”, says Zuahib,”I love commentary”.

“Street-cricket is more enjoyable than the one played in the ground as Karachiites learn playing cricket in the streets since their childhood”, says another onlooker adding that those who have played cricket in the street can never enjoy cricket in grounds.” It is incomparable”, he adds.

Some cricket-lovers hire team players and pay them for the each game to play from their sides.” Today I have come here just because of my friend but usually I am paid for playing cricket.” Says Hamza, a senior cricket player. “The rate varies of players but I take Rs.1000-2000 for each match, whether I win or lose”, he includes.

Play is interrupted again as a cart drawn by a tired looking donkey patters slowly across the pitch. The players all stop playing and watch the donkey’s slow progress. Doesn’t the traffic across the pitch frustrate and disturb the flow of the game? Sameer Ali, an empire of the match, shrugs. “after all It’s a road,” and play resumes.