Well, I was literally exasperated. The distance that, in normal routine, took not more than twenty minutes was not being covered even in three hours’ time. It was all jammed. A single motor bike was unable to move and adding fuel to fire the noise of horns, bikes and car engines was getting on to nerves. Traffic police also seemed helpless. And what was this all owing to? Thanks to Pakistan Super League – PSL, the long awaited couple of days that cost the flow of daily traffic in Lahore gravely.
Finally, after three and a half hours’ hassle, I reached home nitpicking PCB and the management of the big event. Peshawar Zalmi was on fire. Kamran Akmal was smashing fours and sixes like politicians bashing their opponents. Gradually, the exasperation and frustration started melting with the warmth of the overall aura in the TV lounge of my home. Wearing their favorite team’s t-shirt my nephews and other family members were relishing eliminating round of PSL. In no time I also joined in; as like all other Pakistanis, I am also a diehard fan of cricket. The innings concluded and we also got off to dining 
table chit chatting about semifinal, who-will-win-the-game predictions, and the upcoming matches of PSL. No doubt, apart from discussions about prevailing political scenarios in the country and other frustrating news that are the defining trait of news channels these days; discussion of PSL was really a pleasant change. We had something to cherish about, something light and composing to talk about.
The next day of the match, I got to see mix responses in office regarding PSL. Some were lamenting about traffic jam and improper provision of alternate routes for traffic and some were recollecting the joy of watching a cricket match live in the stadium. Whereas on social media situation was not much different either. A friend’s uncle who has happened to be an asthmatic patient was furious as, owing to blocked roads, he couldn’t attend his doctor. Another colleague who is a nutritionist missed her live appearance in a TV show owing to the same reason. But she was not agitated at all. According to her the level of joy of return of cricket in the Land of Pure is much more than the suffering of missing a live appearance. Similarly, there were many other posts in favor and against of 
holding PSL in Pakistan under such a strict monitoring. Nevertheless, being an accountant I personally feel everything on this globe carries an “opportunity cost” that we must have to bear in order to avail it. Back in 1947 when we got independence from British and Indian rule, our elders had to bear its opportunity cost i.e. they left their businesses, properties to migrate Pakistan and above all they were not reluctant even in sacrificing their lives. Similarly, in today’s era where we are surrounded by terrorism and undesired tags internationally, holding such kind of joyful events successfully is, undoubtedly, defeat of ill forces working against Pakistan. Ultimately, this will set us free from terrorism and ill aims of opponents. And in order to get freedom from terrorism we’ll have to pay some cost as they rightly say, “Freedom has a cost”. Waiting for hours in traffic to reach home is nothing as compare to sacrifice of lives that was offered by our elders when they got their independence back in 1947. Long live Pakistan!
This article of mine was originally published in The News International – 13 Aprii, 2018 https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/us/303555-for-the-love-of-cricket
In the name of Humanity... 