KARACHI — Forget the cricket establishment: tape ball cricket is the new national sport.
One former first-class player reckons the game emerged between 1982 and 1984. In that period of General Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law, polarized political battles between the right-wing religious Jamaat-e-Islami and secular, brash MQM divided the city’s suburbs.
Shahbaz Kalia
KARACHI: Pakistan and India are set to meet for the first time in a tape ball tournament. This first-of-its-kind event will take place in Sharjah on November 19 and 20. Organised by the Super Fix Championship, the tournament will feature six teams from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Unlike official cricket, which is often dominated by corporate sponsorship, family-friendly tape ball tournaments are sponsored by individuals and local businesses. Colourful kits, white tape balls and outrageous slogging are integral to the game. The competitions are televised on Facebook and YouTube and attract thousands of spectators.
A successful career in tape ball is less demanding than a regular cricket one and can be combined with other work or education. It has been the route to success for many talented cricketers including Pakistan’s top bowler Shoaib Akhtar.
Tape ball is popular in gullies and streets around the country. It’s a great way for youth to stay active and enjoy the sport. Many of these youngsters go on to become professional cricketers.
Taimoor Mirza
Taimoor Mirza is a professional tape ball cricket player from Pakistan. He is one of the players who made professional tape ball cricket famous in Pakistan. He has played in all major tape ball tournaments across Pakistan like MPL Lahore, Mehran Car Tournament Karachi, DPL etc. He also runs a successful sports brand called TM.
Tape ball cricket is played all across Pakistan in villages, towns, and cities. It is a much faster format of the game than hardball cricket and has become increasingly popular in the country. Many of the best players in Pakistan play this form of cricket. Some even play for international teams.
Some of the most famous players in Pakistan include Hafeez Shah and Sohail Tanvir. These players have won several awards for their performance in tape ball cricket. They are also known for their social media presence and have helped make tape ball cricket a national sport in Pakistan. In addition, they have made it a priority to promote the sport to young people.
Khurram Chakwal
Khurram Chakwal was a police officer before he turned professional tape ball cricket player. He is known for his aggressive batting style and for his ability to hit big sixes. He also runs a sports business. He has played tape ball cricket in many countries including UAE, Dubai, and Oman.
Gully cricket brings communities together and transcends age, social status, and ethnicity. Whether in the fierce contests that erupt between gully teams or the electrifying games played during religious festivals, gully cricket keeps the flame of passion burning brightly.
In spite of a few moral and technical issues, like the chucking rife among younger exponents and the unpreparedness of batsmen reared on tape ball for facing a cricket ball that deviates off the pitch, it remains central to the development of Pakistan’s innovative contributions to modern fast bowling. In fact, most of the country’s top pace bowlers started their careers in gully cricket. One such was Mohammad Amir, who scouted at a tape-ball tournament in Federal “B” Area.
Tahiri Pindi
Tape ball cricket is a form of street cricket played in Pakistan. It has become popular because it is inexpensive and does not require a proper ground. Its popularity has increased with the introduction of social media. Players like Taimoor Mirza, Khurram Chakwal, and Tahiri Pindi have millions of followers on their social media accounts.
The first-ever international tape ball tournament kicked off in Karachi on Monday after a glittering opening ceremony. Inverex beat GFS KDA Strikers by 20 runs in the opener, with Yahya Khan’s unbeaten 40 laying down a solid foundation.
The game was developed in a cricket-crazy country after a long search for something cheaper than a hard-ball, easier to replace if it got lost or damaged, and less likely to damage people and property in small, crowded spaces. It also offers a career that lasts longer than a traditional cricket one and is easier to combine with other work or education.
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