Bonding over cricket in Dariapur

Ahmedabad: This is one game that binds communities together. For the last two years cricket had been acting as a balm for the strained relationship between Hindus and Muslims of Dariapur - one of the most communally-sensitive areas of the city. On Thursday many gathered at the ground in Dariapur police station campus - which used to earlier house a veterinary hospital - to watch Verai Mata team battle it out with Rafiq ki Raftar team in a 10 over knock-out match.Even policemen on duty were seen assisting the teams with their cricket gear and mingling with community leaders.
Children dotted the boundary wall while women dropped in to see their husbands and children playing the game. "I have been compeering for the match and our aim is to spread socially relevant messages by organizing such games. I have also been propagating importance of science education among both community members," says one of the participants, Shital Panchal.
He adds that for the past two years members of the Shanti Samiti or peace committee, had first mooted the idea to organise such cricket matches as an effective tool to advocate communal amity. The other teams that have participated in the tournament are the Police team, Dariapur warriors, Kalupur warriors, DJ team and Commando team.