Afghanistan may have the backing of a majority of neutrals at the Chidambaram Stadium but Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is the cynosure in the must-win game for both teams on Monday.
A handsome crowd of 20,00 in the 38,000 capacity stadium braved the 33 plus temperature and an excessive heat warning during the afternoon, enjoying a neutral game.
“I am here to back Azam,” said Mohammad Haif, a student of the local Engineering college. “When Virat Kohli is not there why not enjoy Azam’s batting.” Fans thronged the stadium when India played its opening match here against Australia on October 8.
“We enjoyed India’s win and now want Pakistan to win this match,” said Manohar Lal, a shopkeeper who shut his business to watch Pakistan play. A handful of Kashmiri students were wearing green Pakistan shirts and were chanting slogans in Azam’s favour.
“We are here to see Azam score a hundred and Pakistan win,” Mushtaq Arsal said. “He is a world class player and we wish him the best of luck.”
Pakistan are touring India for the first time since the 2016 Twenty20 World Cup after their participation hanged in the balance over security fears. Their last tour here was in 2012 when they won an ODI against India.
“I watched them play the 1999 Test and the 2012 ODI, they are a good team and I back them when they are not playing India,” said Abdul Haq, a local from near-by town Avadi.
Afghanistan players are more familiar to the crowd as they regularly feature in the Indian Premier League with Chennai the home ground of Super Kings of Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Fans had gathered outside the Dhoni sports shop, named after India’s 2011 World Cup winning team. “There is a huge demand for Afghanistan shirts but we are not allowed to keep Pakistan shirts,” said a street vendor who doesn’t wish to be named.
Pakistan team was also missing their fans as visa glitches kept them away from the World Cup despite most of them having bought match tickets.
Murad Ali Baig has been in India since the India-Pakistan match in Ahmedabad, vying with local fans chants-for-chants. “I got my visa from Malawi where I do business and the Chennai match will be last before leaving,” said Baig. “I hope and pray my team qualifies for the semi-finals so I can come back.”
“This is a World Cup minus Pakistan fans, so I hope the US gives us more visas when they host the Twenty20 World Cup next year,” said Baig of the 20-team event in USA and the West Indies.
Many Pakistan journalists, including the vice president of the AIPS Amjad Aziz Malik, were also waiting for their visas to perform coverage.
