Ali Hassan Takkar
In recent times, the beautiful game once known as the gentleman’s sport has undergone a subtle yet unsettling transformation. Cricket, which once thrived on passion, patience, and the honour of representing one’s nation or club, now often seems eclipsed by the relentless chase for money and personal gain. The pure joy of playing for the badge on the chest is increasingly being replaced by the allure of lucrative contracts and transient glory. The zeal, the unwavering determination, and the deep-rooted commitment that once defined cricketers are slowly dissipating, making way for a culture where self-interest often overshadows team spirit and the love for the game.
It is disheartening to witness how, in recent days, young talents like Nicholas Pooran and Reeza Hendricks have chosen to walk away from international cricket prematurely. Their retirements have come not just with surprise but with troubling undertones, sometimes marked by public criticism and unhealthy remarks directed at their teams. Such exits tarnish not only their own legacies but also leave deep scars on the very fabric of cricket. They walk away, it seems, not from the game but from the responsibility, the trust, and the millions of hearts that once beat for them.
In stark contrast, we remember legends like MS Dhoni, Andre Russell, Jason Holder, and Imran Tahir, who poured their sweat and soul into the game until their very last overs. They bore the weight of expectations, carried their teams through storms, and embraced the game’s brutal demands with unmatched humility. They stayed not because they had to, but because they wanted to. For them, cricket was more than a career—it was a calling. Their stories stand in opposition to those like Mohammad Amir and others who, despite their immense talent, chose to part ways in manners that left fans disillusioned, their commitments questioned, and their exits marred by controversy. The betrayal of the game’s spirit feels akin to a backstab, not just to teammates but to the millions who believed in them.
Cricket is not just a sport; it is a religion for many, a source of collective identity, joy, and even healing. Fans invest not just their time but their emotions, their hopes, and often their very sense of belonging into the journeys of their favourite players. When a player walks away without honour, it is not just a career move—it shatters dreams, it breaks the hearts that chanted their names. There must be an unspoken boundary, a moral responsibility to exit the game with the dignity it deserves. The greats like Glenn Maxwell, Alastair Cook, and Younus Khan understood this delicate balance. They chose their farewells with grace, leaving the field not when they had nothing left to offer but when they had done enough to be remembered forever. Their legacies remain untarnished, their memories sweet, their journeys complete.
In life, as in cricket, there are always two paths. One is the right way—a path paved with integrity, loyalty, and respect. The other is the easy way, often clouded by greed, selfishness, and momentary comfort. The choice may appear simple, but its weight is profound. Those who choose the right path become immortal in the history books and in the hearts of their admirers. Those who take the other route may find immediate gratification but are ultimately forgotten or, worse, remembered with disappointment. The echoes of the right choices linger across generations, while the wrong ones fade like a passing shadow.
The game of cricket deserves to be played with heart, with fire, and with an understanding that one does not just play for oneself but for a greater collective soul. To leave the field should be a moment of pride, a curtain call that stirs applause, not one that invites regret or bitterness. For cricket will always remain larger than the individual—it is the game that unites, heals, and inspires. Those who truly love it know this, and they stay loyal to its spirit till their final stride on the turf. And in the end, history will remember not just how you played, but how you chose to say goodbye.
