Sri Lankans Who Support Pakistan

Pakistan Fans

Pakistani fans.


Pakistan is a Muslim country and, despite extremists there actually trying to kill our cricket team once, a lot of Sri Lankan Muslims support them. But against our own team? I would think not really. However, HalaalSL tweeted “Muslims are requested to avoid deliberate support/overjoy in today’s match arousing the feeling of hatred among our Sri Lankan brothers-ACJU”. As in, I think, don’t support Sri Lanka too much, because other Sri Lankan Muslims might be supporting Pakistan.

Which is fine. I know a Sri Lankan who supported Australia which I found sacrilegious, but anything else is, I suppose, a matter of choice. It’s a bit odd, I mean, I think Prabhakaran even supported Sri Lanka during the cricket. It’s interesting that Pakistan, as a Muslim country, would inspire competitive sympathies to Sri Lanka, a secular one which includes Muslims.

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59 Comments »

Hisham
2012-10-04 12:35:49

Sigh.. that is the way the press release portrays it, isn’t it.

I think most sri lankan muslims don’t support pakistan against Sri Lanka.

What they probably meant to say was that for the muslims who DO support Pakistan, if Pakistan wins, not to celebrate too much in the sense of unity and togetherness and all that.

They just went about it in a wrong, irresponsible and confusing manner.

Doll
2012-10-04 16:39:15

Ya man, thats exactly what it was. This Indi’s lack of knowledge of this country is shocking. Yet he’s called upon as an expert by anything from al jazera to some other dumbwit. Funny life man. Funny fellow.

kp
2012-10-05 01:13:59

have you ever gone to a pak vs sl match?

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SarongJohnnie
2012-10-04 12:41:23

What Hisham said. And they issued that statement on twitter. Not the best of mediums with its 140 character limit. Irresponsible.

 
Nuwan
2012-10-04 12:42:50

Interesting, I took that tweet to mean, “If you’re going to support Pakistan, please do it quietly so as not to annoy Sri Lankan fans”

wazim
2012-10-14 17:28:36

that’s exactly what it meant. because you can’t force a person to like something else. that seems to be the most logical option.

 
 
Veedhur
2012-10-04 12:57:30

Indi, did you mis understand the tweet or are you using it to drive home a point?

And Sri Lanka is secular? (If you are comparing to Pakistan yes, but arguable otherwise)

 
Arshad
2012-10-04 12:58:43

I don’t think all the Muslims are Pakistan supporters, same as Tamils, where not all the Tamils are Indian supporters. When u look at the latest supporter trends, most of the Sri Lanka supporters do NOT want to support India. They either support another Asia country or a minnows. This is mostly b’coz how India & Indian s treated Sri Lankans in the recent past.

I do not agree with your interpretasion of the ACJU. Their msg is very clear as Sri Lankans we should support SL. Those who support PAK, should keep the things lower.

When u look at the muslims who support Pak, has got some roots their. When u look at pure SL Muslims 99% supports SL team.

I’m proud Muslim & a proud SL supporter.

tia
2012-10-04 13:41:49

No such thing as a pure SL muslim… everyone’s got their roots from somewhere or the other and most – if not all – are not from SL…

2012-10-04 15:28:45

Who cares where they are from?

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tia
2012-10-05 08:21:54

Was just trying to educate Arshad that there is no such thing as a pure sri lankan muslim. And that’s why it would be silly to say I’m sri lankan muslim with pakistani (or other) roots, so I support pakistan (or some other team) over sri lanka. It’s as silly as the sri lankans in australia who were born and brought up in australia but still support sri lanka against their home country.

 
2012-10-05 09:31:39

I don’t think there’s a pure anything in SL. Everyone came from somewhere.

 
tia
2012-10-05 10:17:26

Exactly my point.

 
 
 
 
Arshad
2012-10-04 14:04:37

What I try to tell was there are pakistanis who has come for business/work here, some of them settle permanently here. There are high probability that they support their country, same as Indians.

I do not know about others but, I’ve born here in SL and I’m belongs this country and I Love this country as we learnt in our school days as, “Country Before Self”!

Such
2012-10-04 22:16:13

Good sentiment Arshad. Country before self.

 
 
2012-10-04 14:21:49

Probably not a good advice to give to a Muslim friend, but in principle, everyone has all the right in the world to cheer any team they like.

 
2012-10-04 14:23:57

[...] but also one wonders if they couldn’t have done it in a more subtle manner. Indi has a post on it [...]

 
Nafeez
2012-10-04 14:30:20

Heart says Pakistan, Head says Srilanka.
Totally confused!
Its not that i hate Srilanka but since younger days i always loved Afridi, Saed Anwar, Shoaib Akthar, Wasim Akram, Waqar & Inzi. Its not only me, i know so many guys who supports Team Pakistan & i dont see anything wrong in that. It has nothing to do with religion but if you see most guys who support Pakistan in Srilanka happens to be Muslims. I dunno why. Just because one was born in Srilanka doesnt mean that we have to support Srilanka only & not any other team, thats nonsense, this is sports. I know a few Pakistani friends in Melbourne who wears the SL tshirt to support SL over Pakistan.

the way of the dodo
2012-10-04 14:52:12

You can support whoever you want, but whom you support says a lot about who you identify with. Cricket is almost definitive of our culture, not supporting sri lanka in cricket seems a little like you are not part of that culture.

Dinuka
2012-10-04 15:09:02

I don’t like cricket, I’d rather read a book (which is what I’ll be doing tonight) so what does that mean? I’m not part of the SL culture?

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2012-10-04 15:31:33

It means you’re an atheist.

 
2012-10-04 15:54:26

And single or unhappily married.

 
Dinuka
2012-10-04 16:45:58

Happily single = )

 
2012-10-05 09:33:39

It’s also possible you’re homosexual, communist, or American. Maybe even all three.

 
 
Arshad
2012-10-04 15:32:34

Rightly said dodo. Its part of a my culture where we supported SL from the small days.

I think its come with the family background also, where some of the parents or school or society where u live, supported Pak, may be ppl like Nafeez (no offence) continuing with it. I’m not saying its bad but its kinda odd.

I feel difficult to support other-than SL team. Its in the head, heart, mind & body. It naturally comes.

I’ve lot of Tamil & Muslim friends who support India & Pakistan, I always end up with a Sinhala friend to watch the match, but we always feel like bros, this is the best part of supporting ur country.

I think Nafeez bro, u are miss guided. Even we like other country crickets such as C.Gaile etc etc but it doesnt mean we should support WI, isnt it?

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tastyjujubes
2012-10-05 06:27:10

You don’t think it has anything to do with Quranic teachings that degrade, demonize and contemn the unbelievers AKA “kaffirs’? For example: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/int/long.html

2012-10-05 09:39:16

It is possible that if you read between enough lines you will find a Quranic commandment to degrade, demonize and condemn the SL cricket team and only support the Pakistani team (pbut). We leave this great crusade to you, Mohammed Al-Hadj Jujube.

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Oshada
2012-10-04 15:01:17

Arshad, good to see a fellow DS boy.

People should be free to support whichever country they want. But that doesn’t mean they should be dicks about it!

Also, I think far more irritating are the attention seeking hipsters on Facebook sharing the ‘I’m Sri Lankan and I hate cricket, fuck me right?’ Jonah Hill meme. Gah!

 
Gun Gun
2012-10-04 15:38:03

I think it’s perfectly fine to support any country that you want to support. It’s your right!

Also, Sri Lanka is far from secular. Not even in the constitution.

 
2012-10-04 16:08:54

Does not matter what team you support, I don’t always support Sri Lanka. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don’t. Depends on my mood and who the opposition is. Sometimes I just watch the cricket, supporting neither side. These days I’m not following it all so I really don’t care. Did notice the horrible cheerleaders, though.

 
Doll
2012-10-04 16:43:41

Muslims didnt come here from somewhere else man, most people were born here. Does it matter where there great great great grandfather’s came from? come on man stop being so silly. This is a joke house. Everybody’s somebody came from some place else man. Remember that viyaya bloke?

 
Manas
2012-10-04 17:17:51

First of all, @HalaalSL is not the official twitter account of ACJU (the apex religious body of Islamic Theologians), but @ACJUHalaalSL is. And ACJU does not propogate any messages through only Twitter.

Regarding supporting a team, every individual has their right. The word “Supporter” is misused. We all are fans of a particular team. Some are fan of cricket. We must learn to love the game. Not any individuals who play it.

 
sanchez
2012-10-04 23:12:15

what does groundviews think of all this??? usually they are the shit disturber kno?

 
Misnad
2012-10-05 03:25:50

I honestly think this article is a bit uninformed. Uninformed articles like this tend to draw a lot of communal attention and trouble :). I for one support my own country, Sri Lanka. I wasn’t born here, but I am a Sri Lankan citizen. Does it honestly matter who people support in a game? It is a game after all and not some kind of life or death war. Don’t stereotype communities of people based on a few closed things you see and interpret especially in public. Getting all worked up for a little thing like a game of cricket is quite silly. Now here’s the sad part: a lot of folks are going to view this article, ignore the comments and just feel ‘oh those disloyal creatures!’ On that note, supporting your own country is the greatest act of patriotism you can show during a game of cricket, but again let’s not stereotype the rest who don’t and say they are in patriotic over just a game. As for the ACJU tweet, it was meant for Pakistani supporters in SL most likely so the interpretation in the article is the author’s own. Hope readers wouldn’t take that as the intended meaning. To those RT’ing and tweeting this article: tweet responsibly unless you have some other hidden motive :).

 
tastyjujubes
2012-10-05 04:59:07

Those Sri Lankan Muslims who support Pakistan over Sri Lanka must be sorely disappointed after what happened yesterday. Allah clearly did not look favourably upon them.

 
sanchez
tastyjujubes
2012-10-05 08:11:30

See my above comment… :-p

 
 
Manas
2012-10-05 09:13:25

“… I honestly think this article is a bit uninformed …” *Not a bit, very much uninformed*

“… a lot of folks are going to view this article, ignore the comments and just feel ‘oh those disloyal creatures!’ …” *ThumbsUp*

“… As for the ACJU tweet …” *Please remember it was not from ACJU. It was a bunch of young people who pretended to be ACJU Halaal Division earlier. (After ACJU contacting them, they have changed the official Halaal logo which they were using as profile pic.)*

 
Manas
2012-10-05 09:18:38

Please don’t try to pick & choose. If you are really interested in Quran, try to read it as a whole.. :)

tastyjujubes
2012-10-05 21:43:15

I have read the Quran in English. It did not impress me much. I found that it was filled with fire and brimstone and an angry Allah.

Manas
2012-10-08 11:23:48

Good :) Why not trying to read it another time with commentary, and from a neutral stance.
It is up to you to decide whether it is worthy or not. *No Offence Intended* :)

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tastyjujubes
2012-10-08 19:43:19

The word of god should not need a commentary, should it? I feel there is a lot of anger and berating going on in the Quran and little reflection and composure.

 
 
 
 
Manas
2012-10-05 09:20:00

Please don’t try to pick & choose. If you are really interested in Quran, please try to read it as a whole.. :)

 
2012-10-05 11:01:51

‘Religion has nothing to do with loving your country’ I dont think no ones loves this vountry as I do! I love this country dat much! I am Sri Lanka!

 
2012-10-05 11:02:59

‘Religion has nothing to do with loving your country’ I dont think no ones loves this vountry as I do! I love this country dat much! I am Sri Lanka!

 
2012-10-05 11:54:49

Support who or what you want, its your choice. Just don’t expect favors from one side, when you support another side. Thats all. You can’t have your cake and eat it all at the same time. You make a choice, justify it and live by it. If you wish to change that choice after a while do so, don’t stick by a wrong choice just for the sake of it or pride.

Personally I support Sri Lanka whenever they are playing against anyone, period. At other times I pick and choose who I support depending on my mood and inclination at the time.

 
Atheist
2012-10-07 20:57:42

Religion divides people…

wazim
2012-10-14 17:32:31

daamn..i was expecting you to say something totally different lol

 
 
Imanuel
2012-10-13 10:37:35

Shouldn’t people be free to support or promote any team they choose to?

Should one’s patriotism be determined by the sports team they root for? As someone else here had asked, what if one does not like cricket at all? Does this mean they are completely un-Sri Lankan?

How would this situation reflect on an Australian citizen of Sri Lankan background (let’s say by birth, family, or even a simple migrant)?

Just curious to know the different opinions.

 
Aussie Sri Lankan ???
2012-10-13 14:38:36

What’s wrong with Sri Lankans supporting Pakistan? When the Sri Lanka team visits Australia, New Zealand or England all the Sri Lankans there, who are not citizens of these countries come in droves with huge Sri Lankan t-shirts and flags and support Sri Lanka despite being a citizen of another country. So what’s the big deal??? Imaging what the White Australians think of our buggers (who are citizens of Austria) who support the Sri Lankan cricket team when they play in Australia??? I can imagine what they might thinking, and it aint pleasing to the ear. Hik Hik :-D

tastyjujubes
2012-10-13 19:13:25

Most of the Sri Lankan supporters in Australia are first generation immigrants. So their support for the home country is understandable. That is not the case with Sri Lankan Muslims, who also did not come from Pakistan.

Imanuel
2012-10-14 06:13:16

Tastyjujubes,

I understand that you say “..That is not the case with Sri Lankan Muslims, who also did not come from Pakistan”

In your opinion, do these people *have to* support a team that the rest of the country supports?

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tastyjujubes
2012-10-14 11:05:59

No they do not have to support a team that the rest of the country supports. But by not doing so and actively supporting a team such as Pakistan over Sri Lanka they invite suspicion and questions of loyalty.

 
Imanuel
2012-10-14 16:42:49

Alrighty. Wht do you mean by “team such as Pakistan”?

 
Imanuel
2012-10-14 16:44:11

Alrighty.

What do you mean by “team such as Pakistan”?

Do you mean supporting a team besides Sri Lanka is acceptable, if it is not Pakistan?

tastyjujubes
2012-10-14 17:31:53

Pakistan is a an avowedly Muslim state and some of the articles I’ve read report their SL Muslim supporters as saying that they support the Pakistan team because they are Muslim. To non-Muslim Sri Lankans it may appear as if SL Muslims place their loyalty to other Muslims over and above Sri Lanka and other non-Muslim Sri Lankans.

Imanuel
2012-10-15 08:19:04

So, it’s essentially a question of their patriotism (“loyalty to Sri Lanka”) that we have here.

I’ll leave the religion part aside for a while, because that has been debated above, inconclusively though.

One question that arises immediately is, how do you think this position reflects on Sri Lankan cricket players who play for foreign leagues, while having not been available for the Sri Lankan national team at that given time?

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tastyjujubes
2012-10-15 13:36:30

Yes it is essentially a question of their patriotism. It does not help their cause in Sri Lanka as they will be portrayed not as sons of the soil but as turncoats who give their loyalty to an outside entity.

The same issues have already arisen with SL cricket players – look at Malinga for example. There are plenty of people who believe he plays for money and not for country.

 
2012-10-19 17:53:17

The cricketers are all professionals so they play for money. Some tend to be a bit more mercenary than others but it is more a difference of degree than kind.

Patriotism – that is a difficult concept. If a cricketer who plays for the country is a patriot, what about the ordinary citizen of no outstanding ability who just lives a decent life? Is he not a patriot too? What of the greedy politician who is busy swindling public money? He constantly claims to be a patriot, but is he?

 
 
 
 
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