Pakistani Taliban denounce cricket as a distraction from jihad

[mota bhai 2,675]

With talks on a sticky wicket, the interior minister said Monday that cricket could offer hope.

...

“The Taliban follow the Pakistan cricket team with keen interest so this can be a platform.”

But speaking to AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location, Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said his group would refuse to play ball.

“These secular people want to distance our youth from jihad and Islamic teachings through cricket. We are strongly against cricket and dislike it,” he said.

...

Reaction to the minister's suggestion that the Taliban could be tempted into talks through cricket was also overwhelmingly negative on Twitter, which is used mainly by the country's English-speaking elite.

In a reference to bloody toll inflicted by the Taliban on Pakistan's forces over the years, one user called @MidhatZ, said: “Cricket on a red pitch and may be they could bowl with our soldiers heads?”

http://www.dawn.com/news/1089176/taliban-refuse-nisars-cricket-match-offer

[JohnR! 5,495]

One thing we can all agree with the Taliban. Cricket is dull. There is more excitement in watching wet paint dry....

[mota bhai 2,675]

Cricket is an excellent sport to watch when working from home. I can go on a call, come back an hour later and miss next to nothing.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Cricket is an excellent sport to watch when working from home. I can go on a call, come back an hour later and miss next to nothing.

Touche!

[mota bhai 2,675]

I will say, though, that cricket is fun to play with a group of friends. But then again, most sports are fun to play with friends.