The Autobiography of Aslam Sher Khan
By Matin Khan, Allied Publishers, 1982
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God, Gold and Glory! |
A puzzled Malaysian population was thrilled when Balbir later explained, "The Indian team plays together and prays together. Aslam goes to a gurudwara with me back home. I go with him to a mosque here." On the way back, Rasheed humorously taunted Shahnaz. "India will win tomorrow. Allah grants the first prayer, and Balbir has prayed to Him for the first time today." Rasheed was right. India won. |
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anager Balbir
Singh Sr. wanted to know if I would be going for the Friday prayers. "Don't
go alone," he said, "I am coming along with you to thank Allah for
helping us win."
Balbir, myself, and the entire Pakistani team went by the same bus to the Shahi Masjid for prayers. Centre-forward Rasheed was also with us. He was not representing Pakistan, but was there as an observer.
"What are you going to do next, Aslam?" he asked. "First you score the equaliser, and now you are taking Balbir to pray in a mosque." I did not pay any attention to the banter. My heart was praying for India's victory over Pakistan.
Balbir was praying in the first row, imitating the Imam. A puzzled Malaysian population was thrilled when Balbir later explained, "The Indian team plays together and prays together. Aslam goes to a gurudwara with me back home. I go with him to a mosque here."
On the way back, Rasheed humorously taunted Shahnaz. "India will win tomorrow, Shannu,' he said. "Allah grants the first prayer, and Balbir has prayed to Him for the first time today."
Rasheed was right. India won. The crowd kept milling outside the dressing room, waiting for a glimpse of the World Cup winners. I was forced out of the room by my team-mates to wave to the crowd and acknowledge their cheers.
My heart choked with tears as I waved to the crowd. Little did they know that I had no one to wave to. Father was dead. Amma was back home in Bhopal. The little girl who felt that I would become a great player one day had crossed into the shadows of death.
There was no one to share this moment with me. I brushed away the thought, and the tears that came with it.
India - Champions of the World!