The sport of diversity

As the World cup progresses in Australia, one is reminded of the unique game that defined diversity at every level — countries, colors, gender, body proportions, and wealth. Of course 10% of humanity who have fenced off most of the wealth in the World, does not care — they have their soccer, tennis and golf, and that is likely enough. But for the rest of us, something else matters.

And now we have a game that is played by nearly hundred countries and in every continent, albeit not uniformly nor with equal competence. But those who understand this game have given everything to make it universal and continue to do so. Here, we do not shout at each other, hit, fight or kill. It is a game of skill of bat and ball, a game that defines the future of humanity. Most simply shake hands, win or lose and that is the future of humans.

It may be optimistic. There is a small cohort of people in the World who makes life difficult for the rest. They run, pillage, rape and kill without ever knowing their lifespan is limited. Most — white, black, brown and purple — never interact with another human of color, religion or gender. They only realize their life was wasted very close to the end.

That’s not Cricket. Here, we have no bias — everybody is the same. A country with 1.4 billion with superstars compete with those with a few millions. Countries with per capita GDP, orders of magnitude higher compete with those barely surviving. Large competes with the small, tall with the short, fat with those less so, and black, white and brown from every corner of the Earth.

That’s Cricket. If you don’t get it, don’t worry, you never will.