Beyond winning and losing

The song Khel Dil Mein Hai is a potent reminder that cricket isn’t just a competitive sport but has carved its own space in people’s hearts and minds

Cricket is not just a sport for Pakistanis, but is also a pivotal component of their cultural and political identity. The so-called gentlemen’s game is perceived as a great leveller in Pakistan — a dynamic force that has the ability to unite disparate groups and ethnicities. The country has also used cricket as an avenue to initiate diplomatic overtures and iron out any conflicts and hostilities with its neighbour India.

For decades, cricket has been weighed down by copious fixing scandals that have tarnished the reputation of our team across the globe. Even so, the sport has been billed as a game of hearts in the country and continues to remain popular amid controversies.

As our team braces itself for the T20 World Cup in Australia, players have to reckon with the burgeoning pressure to measure up to people’s expectations and perform well enough to reach the finals. Our men in green cannot allow themselves to be steered by the spirit of stiff competition alone. They must also recognise the fact that cricket must be played with a heady mix of the head and heart.

Meesha Shafi, Asim Azhar and Eva B have relayed this message through a scintillating new cricket anthem that pulses with vitality and a freshness of perspective. Titled Khel Dil Mein Hai, the anthem makes effective use of poignant lyrics to draw attention to the cultural significance of the sport. At the same time, the groovy number benefits from a riveting music video that is admirably equipped with the state-of-the-art production capabilities. These are the crucial ingredients that make Khel Dil Mein Hai a roaring success.

The strength of the anthem lies in its ability to mine the many talents of the three artistes. Shafi and Azhar’s prowess as vocalists is on full display while Eva B’s rap adds a unique, eclectic touch to the song.

The song has been co-written by Shafi, Eva B and Abdullah Siddiqui. Their collaborative efforts have paid off as the lyrics have a distinct poetic quality and present a broader view of the sport and its relevance for Pakistanis. In Khel Dil Mein Hai, cricket is viewed beyond the crude binaries of winning and losing. The anthem, therefore, stands out as a potent reminder that cricket isn’t just a competitive sport but has carved its own space in people’s hearts and minds.

If the lyrics are to serve as a gauge, the game is a story unto itself that our players have to take towards an enormously satisfying conclusion. Be that as it may, this story shouldn’t be weighted in favour of a particular team. On the contrary, cricket possesses a magnetic appeal that transcends these seemingly trivial concerns. As the lyrics categorically suggest, success and failure are immaterial when it comes to the sport. The sport, as the anthem indicates, reflects the ‘true meaning’ of life — a hyperbole that reinforces our society’s allegiance to cricket.

Khel Dil Mein Hai shouldn’t be construed as an anthem that inspires complacency in our team. The song seeks to motivate cricketers to up the ante while keeping the true essence of the game alive. By emphasising the power of the game, Khel Dil Mein Hai motivates cricketers to play with a soaring sense of determination. The anthem’s subtle yet moving lyrics are a glaring testament to the fact that cricket is akin to breathing for so many Pakistanis. As a result, cricketers must remain mindful of the people’s deep connection with the game and ensure that their performance on the pitch doesn’t disappoint their fans. At the same time, cricket aficionados are also encouraged to understand that the true strength of the sport lies in the assiduity of its players rather than the number of matches they win.

Since the heydays of Dil Dil Pakistan, cricket anthems have raised the morale of the team as well as fans who keenly observe their performances at stadiums or on their television sets. At a time when Pakistan cricket was at a low ebb, it was music that infused hope in the hearts of a dejected population. It is refreshing to see that this tradition hasn’t waned over time. Cricket anthems are tantamount to motivational mantras. Without them, the game would lose its sheen and the people would lose faith in the game.