Did you notice my Wet Eyes?

Late last evening, after witnessing the semi-final game at the Champions Trophy ’14 where Pakistan beat India 4-3 at Bhubaneswar, sleep eluded me for long. Something was disturbing me.

The final minutes of the television broadcast showed Pakistan team members, following their victory over the hosts, jubilating and hurling abuses to the thousands present at the Kalinga Stadium.

There was some disharmony in my mind. For long, I didn’t know what it was.

Let’s rewind to the December of ’12. My interest in writing was on the rise, Hockey had been my passion and writing about Hockey was turning out to be a new found religion for me. The year was about to end but, for me, I had found another target for myself: Take a short sabbatical from work and cover a less-known Asian Hockey Champions Trophy ’14, scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar.

The 8-day Doha visit was the most enriching and humbling experience for me. I shared accommodations to keep it economical, my only aim in the morning was to go to the lobby of the Hotel where teams of all the participating nations were put up, to get unrestricted access to anyone who mattered in Asian Hockey.

There were many memorable moments on that trip starting from an upset Indian Coach Micheal Nobbs yelling at me at the first sight, “Ah, so you are the guys who write all that crap?” to ending with sleepless nights of reflecting upon the times in Doha.

The outstanding experience for me was an occasion when I was humbled to the core.

As I waited in the hotel lobby, a diminutive person stood next to me and murmured, “maaf keejeyega, namaz padh raha tha, isliye aane mein der ho gayee.” (I apologize for being late, I was in middle of my namaaz.)

It took me some time to recover from that initial dose of generosity.

“Muhammad Tousiq,” he introduced himself.

I had called for him from his room and was wondering would the second highest bid player of Pakistan for the opening season of Hockey India League 2013 show up at all to meet an Indian rookie journalist or not?

Lo and Behold, he stood next to me. He was short, medium built and had an innocent face, one that you would pass by on the street and you wouldn’t even notice.

Confused, I hastily set my laptop aside, stood up to shake hands with him.

A soft-spoken person, one couldn’t decipher that once on the turf this is the player who creates opportunities for the forwards from the midfield for Pakistan. What Sardar Singh was to India, was Tousiq for Pakistan, a prolific midfielder.

During that visit, I fell in love with the sportsman spirit of Pakistan players. My detailed interactions with Tousiq and his other compatriots made my moderate, unmolded beliefs in humankind turn stronger. They all loved the sport and their hunger to learn newer tricks of the trade sounded virgin.

With a India v Pakistan final on the anvil, one thing that Tousiq mentioned about the upcoming encounter made my vision blur for a moment.

He said, “We give our best in all games. We don’t play with two sticks when we play against India.”

I am positive Tousiq must have noticed the wetness in my eyes.

I looked down pretending to scribble something on my notepad. I distinctly recall, I didn’t know what I was writing. I was overwhelmed with his kind nature and polite words.

I had heard stories about the humbleness of the stalwarts of Hockey from Pakistan and India: Shahbaz Ahmed Sr. , Md. Shahid, etc. I never had a chance to meet any one of them but after meeting Tousiq, I could only imagine what their character must have been.

I had to admit, interaction with Tousiq was one of the life-changing experiences for me. I developed respect for Pakistan as a country and it’s ambassadors, their Hockey players.

Fast forward to today. This morning, in the newspapers, websites, television channels, etc. there was a picture of topless Pakistan players displaying abusive gestures on the crowd at the stadium.

At the centre of the picture was none other than, Tousiq Muhammad.

I looked at the picture for longer than usual. My eyes were wet; quite similar to the way when I met Tousiq, the first time. This time I am sure that Tousiq wouldn’t have taken notice.

Tausiq is in the picture with middle finger up. He has been suspended for a match for his misadventure during the victory celebration.