NEW YORK: Ayush, a truck driver from Toronto, was a lifesaver. When you request a 20-minute cab ride on an app on Sunday morning in Long Island and are told the wait time is an hour, you know something really big is happening near you. Pakistani fans were completely outnumbered on Sunday, but that hardly mattered.
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He chanced upon a boy from Bathinda who had driven eight hours across the border to help an Indian journalist in distress. “India, come with me.” This is a” He says, but we all feel indebted to him.
Ayush was not the only one who travelled from afar for this historic match between India and Pakistan in cricket’s ‘new home’ – the United States of America.
Rizwan and Zeeshan, businessmen from London, had come to New York just to watch Pakistan play. Pakistan had had a bad start in the World Cup but that didn’t matter. “It’s passion. How can we get away from this match… We’ve spent $3,000 on this. We just pray the rain stops,” Rizwan told TOI.
Indian fans cheering for the Indian team during the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match.
Pakistani fans cheering for the Pakistan cricket team.
Microsoft CEO and co-owner of Major League Cricket team Seattle Orcas Satya Nadella, along with Willow TV, CrikBuzz and MLC co-founder and chairman Satyan Gajwani (right) and Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora pose for a selfie during the India vs Pakistan match in New York on Sunday.
Cricket fans had a great time watching the match between the arch rivals.
Sathyan and Sachin Tendulkar.
Sathyan and US cricketer Saurabh Netravalkar.
A huge crowd of fans gathered at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York to watch the thrilling matches over the weekend.
Rain on Sunday morning had been a real threat for quite some time, and just when we were fearing the worst – rain on the “first run” – locals gave us hope: “Check the app, it’s just a passing shower and will stop by 11am.”
“Call me, I’m not here anymore.” “Yes,” Navjot Singh Sindhu said in his characteristic vein, walking towards a makeshift elevator where he was greeted by his old “best friend” Rameez Raja. The two openers from the ’80s and ’90s, from either side of the border, embraced each other and quickly joked in pure Punjabi, as if back in their playing days. And when someone asked Rameez if the Nassau County Ground reminded him of any venue overseas, the former captain replied, “It has to be Toronto.”
Between 1996 and 1998, India and Pakistan played three consecutive Sahara Cups (bilateral ODI series) in Toronto. Sourav Ganguly He has developed into a top-class limited-overs player. Saqlain Mustaq Weave magic.
The two teams have not played a bilateral cricket match for many years and there is a sense of eagerness to resume the rivalry between India and Pakistan. “Cricket is what unites India and Pakistan and if necessary, the two countries should play more frequently at overseas venues,” Sidhu had said a few days ago, a sentiment echoed by fans.
“I love watching both teams play, imagine that,” said Haider, an IT professional from Maryland who plans to watch the India-Pakistan match from across the world. Virat Kohli And for Babar Azam to retire without ever playing a Test match… it’s really sad.”
Navjot Singh Sidhu and Wasim Akram at the ground ahead of the T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan. (AP Photo)
Pakistan fans were vastly outnumbered on Sunday, but that hardly mattered. Sachin TendulkarAs Rizwan, one of the guests at the match, strolled around the Nassau County ground, he felt the love he received from not only Indian but Pakistani fans alike. “We grew up watching him… you can’t help but love him,” said Rizwan, wearing Pakistan’s green jersey.
The rain came and went, the game was stopped and restarted, but the US cricket community knew their goal had been achieved. Seattle Orcas,team Major League CricketParthasarathy told TOI: “The game has made a huge impact. If you follow any top news channel in the US, everyone is following it. Add to that the victory of the US team and cricket is here to stay.”
We’ll know in a few years, but the signs are really good.
