A die hard Pakistani cricket fan has captured the hearts of many after selling his tractor for $3000 (approximately INR 2,50,000 or 8,40,000 Pakistani Rupees) to attend the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan T20 World Cup match. The game, held at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, initially left the fan disheartened with Pakistan’s loss. However, he soon found a reason to celebrate India’s victory over the USA.
Sporting a green Pakistan jersey, the fan’s story resonated widely when he shared his experience in a video posted on the social media platform ‘X’. Speaking to ANI, he said, “I sold my tractor for $3000 to watch the India vs. Pakistan match, in which we lost. I was very disappointed. But the public supported me so well. Mujhe itne acche messages aye ki mujhe laga ki ajj mujhe India ko support karna chahiye (I received such great messages from the public that I felt I should support India today). Surya has won my heart today. Tractor ke paise India ne vasool karva diye (India have made the money spent on the tractor worth it).”
#WATCH | New York, USA: “The match was very good. India played really well. The US is a very good team… They are very competitive. But India showed a very real spirit…,” says Suhas, a fan of the Indian Cricket team. pic.twitter.com/8sLyo8IPL0
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2024
#WATCH | New York, USA: “I sold my tractor for $3000 to watch the India vs Pakistan match, in which we lost. I was very disappointed… Surya has won my heart today. Tractor ke paise India ne vasool karva diye,” says a Pakistani fan on India’s win against US in the T20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/9wJdoOjpRS
— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2024
In the same video, following India’s victory over Pakistan, he expressed, “I sold my tractor to get a ticket worth $3000. When we saw India’s score, we didn’t think we were going to lose this game. We thought it was an achievable score. The game was in our hands, but after Babar Azam got out, people were disheartened. I congratulate all Indian fans.”
Wednesday’s T20 World Cup match saw India secure a place in the Super 8s with a decisive seven-wicket victory against the USA. The USA, batting first, faced an early setback with Arshdeep Singh’s brilliant spell of 4-9, which included dismissing Shayan Jahangir (0) and Andries Gous (2) in the opening over. Despite these early losses, Steven Taylor (24) and Nitish Kumar (27) managed to stabilize the innings, guiding their team to a total of 110-8.
India’s chase was dominated by another stellar performance from Arshdeep Singh, who set the tone for the innings. Suryakumar Yadav (50) and Shivam Dube (31) then took charge, forging a crucial 72-run partnership that cemented India’s dominance. Their combined efforts with the bat ensured a comfortable seven-wicket victory for India.
The Pakistani fan’s journey from disappointment to celebration highlights the unifying power of cricket, transcending national boundaries and bringing fans together in the spirit of the game. His newfound support for India, despite his initial disappointment, has won hearts and added a touching narrative to India’s journey in the T20 World Cup.