Pakistan fan Mohammed Bashir receives ticket from MS Dhoni

Mohammed Bashir, a 62-year-old Pakistani fan, was extremely happy after he received a match ticket from the Indian skipper MS Dhoni for the Indo-Pak match in the Asia Cup. Bashir, who was at Mirpur for the match, said: “Dhoni had provided me the pass for Saturday’s match. I didn’t ask Afridi to oblige me. I never speak to him. Afridi may have several fans in Pakistan but unlike India, our team is not united,” he said.

Bashir, a Chicago-based Pakistani, is no ordinary cricket fan. The owner of a restaurant, the well-known Bashir can be seen in the stands sporting a bright green kurta cheering for Pakistan almost everywhere they play. Not even his ailing health has put a dent in his travels. But at the 2015 World Cup, Bashir had temporarily switched his allegiance and was praying for Indian captain MS Dhoni and India to retain the title after Pakistan was knocked out in the quarterfinal.

The 63-year-old, who has replaced ‘Chacha Cricket’ as the ‘mascot’ for the Pakistani team, in the past, had stated that Dhoni’s humility has won him many fans in Pakistan. At the 2014 World T20, Bashir could not get any tickets for any of the matches, so Dhoni arranged a complimentary ticket of the final for me.

Before the Asia Cup game between the arch rivals, he didn’t support only his birth country but wished India didn’t lose as well. “Every year I ask my tailor to provide me a new dress for a cricket tour, this time my dress is half Pakistani and half Hindustani and the same will be worn during the match,” he added.