World Cup 2019: Pakistan fans say they will support India against England on Sunday

Former England captain Nasser Hussain on Wednesday came up with a teasing question for Pakistan cricket fans asking them who they would support in the England-India clash in World Cup 2019 at Edgbaston on Sunday. The poke was obvious for, despite their rivalry, Pakistan would back India since an English win could put their hard-fought return into the tournament in jeopardy. Pakistan did well by winning two back-to-back games against South Africa and New Zealand after getting hammered by India.

Sarfaraz Ahmed‘s side now has seven points from as many games while England are on eight from seven. An Indian win in Birmingham will give Pakistan a golden opportunity to get into the top four by beating Afghanistan in their next game. Bangladesh are another side with seven points from seven games while Sri Lanka are on six from six. Overall, it’s a very interesting scenario shaping up in the 12th edition of the World Cup.

His question, however, had a funny counter-question from his one-time colleague Kevin Pietersen. The latter, also a former England captain, asked Nasser who would he support since he was born in India. The former captain replied saying that he would support England just as Pieterson would do when England play South Africa in rugby. Pietersen is a South African-born who played for England.

Besides the exchange of banter between the two former England cricketers, the Pakistani fans also joined the party.
While some said it was time for neighbourly fraternity and hence they backed Virat Kohli‘s men, others said it was nothing but Pakistan’s own interest that made their fans support India in Sunday’s big clash.

Wins over West Indies and England will take India to semis

India were meanwhile playing their game against the West Indies at Old Trafford, where they thumped Pakistan, on Thursday. If India managed to win both against the Windies and England, they would go through to the semi-finals. The relation between India and Pakistan has seen a deterioration in recent times.

The Pakistan cricket team was flayed after it lost to India by 89 runs in DLS rule at Old Trafford on June 16. Nasser Hussain, who has time and again expressed his admiration for Pakistan cricket, appealed all to stand by them.

Here are the reactions of the Pakistani fans to Hussain’s question: